Backlash at TIFF as Lisa LaFlamme’s Gaza Question Sparks Audience Booing

September 11, 2025 – Canada/Palestine – 

At the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), a moment of tension unfolded when Canadian journalist Lisa LaFlamme was booed by sections of the audience after raising a question about Gaza’s death toll. The incident occurred during the post-screening discussion of The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, a documentary directed by Barry Avrich. The film traces the story of an Israeli general’s efforts to save his family during the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, a narrative centered on survival, fear, and the trauma of that day.

The documentary, presented as part of TIFF’s special programming, highlights the personal ordeal of the general and his family, reflecting Avrich’s style of exploring human resilience amid conflict. The screening drew considerable attention, not only because of its subject matter but also because of its timing, landing in the midst of ongoing debates around Gaza and Israel. The room’s mood shifted sharply when LaFlamme, known for her years as a trusted Canadian broadcaster, asked about the humanitarian toll in Gaza—a question framed within the broader realities of the conflict rather than the film’s specific storyline.

Her intervention sparked a backlash from segments of the audience, many of whom were there to honor the story of Israeli survival depicted in the documentary. The boos underscored the polarized atmosphere surrounding any public discussion of Gaza and Israel, where attempts to widen the conversation to include Palestinian suffering can trigger strong emotional responses.

LaFlamme’s question nonetheless highlighted the responsibilities of journalists at cultural events: to situate art and narrative within the larger context of war, human rights, and accountability. It also revealed the challenges of navigating conversations in highly charged spaces, where empathy for one side is sometimes perceived as disregard for the other.

The incident has since generated wider discussion beyond TIFF, with commentators noting that the journalist’s question represented the broader concerns of many who believe Palestinian casualties remain under-acknowledged in public forums. At the same time, the audience’s reaction demonstrated the intensity of emotions tied to the events of October 7 and the subsequent war. The clash captured how film, journalism, and politics often intersect, exposing unresolved global rifts on one of today’s most divisive conflicts.

Reference – 

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6898876