**Filmmaker Donates Documentary Proceeds to Rebuild Israeli Kibbutz** Canadian filmmaker Barry Avrich has committed the net profits from his documentary, *The Road Between Us*, to assist in the reconstruction of Kibbutz Nahal Oz, an Israeli community severely impacted by the October 7 terrorist attacks. The documentary chronicles the harrowing experience of Noam Tibon, a retired Israeli military general, as he attempts to rescue his family during the Hamas invasion. Nahal Oz, situated near the Gaza border, was attacked by approximately 180 terrorists on that day, resulting in the deaths of 13 residents and the abduction of eight others, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Avrich expressed his emotional connection to the kibbutz, stating, "Having gone to that kibbutz, I was extraordinarily overwhelmed with how beautiful it was and how it was once a great source of life and agricultural productivity. I immediately said, ‘What can I do?’" He added, "I at least wanted to contribute the profits of this film to help rebuild it. I do want to dedicate the film to help rebuild that kibbutz and whatever needs to be done to bring new life back there." Tibon, the film's central figure, has relocated part-time to Nahal Oz as a gesture to encourage others to return. However, Avrich noted that many families are hesitant to come back. "There’s a lot of horrendous scar tissue and memories. You have people that lost families, or families that were wiped out," he said. Despite the challenges, Avrich views the narrative of Nahal Oz as one of resilience. He remarked, "When you walk through the streets there, and you look at the empty houses, and you look at the remnants of mortar shells on the streets and houses with bullet holes and smashed in doors and windows, you know, it must be rebuilt. It should not be some kind of a monument of what’s happened. It is, in a lot of ways, a place of great courage. But I’m hoping that it is rebuilt, and we’re going to do what we can to help." Since its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in early September, *The Road Between Us* has gained significant traction. Just four days after its premiere, TIFF awarded the film the People’s Choice Documentary Award. Following its theatrical release on October 3, the documentary grossed over $50,000 at the Canadian box office during its opening weekend. Avrich expressed pride in the community support for the film, stating, "I’m very proud of the community that’s come out and supported in a major way. I anticipated certain issues that the film would have, as all films of a similar topic have had, but certainly not the incredible global support, which was really a catalyst of the TIFF nightmare." The film faced initial setbacks when TIFF organizers announced in August that it would be removed from the festival lineup due to issues with legal clearance for footage. This decision drew criticism from Canadian politicians and Hollywood figures. TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey later apologized for the incident and attended the premiere alongside Avrich. "I want to thank you, here today, to watch the powerful story that unfolds," Bailey said before the sold-out screening at Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto on September 10. "I want to apologize, especially to the Jewish community, for mistakes I made in the lead-up to this day. In an environment of rising, dangerous antisemitism, I want to apologize."