TORONTO — When the Toronto International Film Festival launched in 1976, Hollywood barely noticed. Fifty years later, it commands the world’s attention — sometimes reluctantly.

As TIFF celebrates its golden anniversary, it walks a tricky tightrope between global tastemaker, Canadian showcase, and public lightning rod.

Last month’s controversy over Barry Avrich’s “The Road Between Us” underscored that tension. The documentary, about a retired Israeli general who rescued his family during the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, was pulled from the lineup over footage rights and security issues, sparking backlash from politicians, Jewish groups, and entertainment figures.

Days later, TIFF reinstated the film and promised clearer communication.

“It’s an increasingly complex world, and it is bec

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