Skip to main content
Unarchived film image, co-directors Hayley Gray and Elad Tzadok

Unarchived

This event has passed

World Premiere

For too long, the past has been the exclusive domain of the white colonial power structure. The good news is, we are in the midst of a paradigm shift in consciousness when it comes to appreciating history from multiple viewpoints. In this zippy NFB documentary, Hayley Gray and Elad Tzadok survey the inspiring work of a handful of community archives across British Columbia. It’s an important and timely reminder that the model of a centralized repository of records and artifacts is highly problematic—indeed, the official version of our history as presented by the Royal Museum of BC, for example, has consciously or not served to propagate a white supremacist narrative.

In contrast, Gray and Tzadok talk to curators and archivists from groups traditionally marginalized or excluded communities: Indigenous, Queer, Trans, the Chinese Canadian Museum, the Tahltan Nation, the South Asian Legacy Project, and others. Along the way, we learn the secret, neglected, and untold histories of this place we only think we know.

 

Q&A Sept 30 & Oct 2

 

Media Partner

The Tyee logo 

Directors
Credits
Country of Origin

Canada

Year

2022

Language

English

Film Contact
Content Warning

Gender or Sexual Discrimination

G

Open to youth!

84 min
Documentary Women Directors

Book Tickets

This event has passed.

Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre

Tough Old Broads

Dir. Stacey Tenenbaum
90 min

Tough Old Broads is a feature documentary that follows three trailblazing women as they continue to make waves well into their 70s. Because you can't keep a good woman down.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Dir. Kaouther Ben Hania
89 min

Mixing documentary and reenactment, this film powerfully evokes the desperate attempts of the Red Crescent to rescue a six year old child trapped in a car under Israeli military fire. Oscar nominee: Best International Film

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

The Chronology of Water

Dir. Kristen Stewart
128 min

Kristen Stewart's fearless directorial debut is based on the best-selling memoir by Lidia Yuknavitch (Imogen Poots), a chronicle of her abusive childhood, traumatized adulthood, and escapes through swimming, drugs, sex, and ultimately writing.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

Montreal, ma belle

Dir. Xiaodan He
118 min

In this Valentine to discovering love later in life, the ever-elegant Joan Chen plays Feng Xia, a 53-year-old Chinese immigrant and mother in Montreal whose world is turned upside down when she meets and falls in love with a young Quebecoise.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

2026 Oscar® Shorts (Animated)

Dir. Various
83 min

The nominees for Best Animated Short Film include The Girl Who Cried Pearls, a fable from Canadian filmmakers Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, narrated by Colm Feore.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

Spring After Spring

Dir. Jon Chiang
78 min

Three daughters strive to live up to the standards set by their mother Marie Mimi Ho, and keep Vancouver Chinatown's Spring Parade going through thick and thin, in this enormously affectionate local documentary by Jon Chiang.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

Credits

Producer

Teri Snelgrove

Screenwriter

Hayley Gray, Elad Tzadok

Cinematography

Kaayla Whachell

Editor

Aynsley Baldwin, Elad Tzadok

Original Music

Edo Van Breemen, Johannes Winkler

Directors

Hayley Gray headshot, Unarchived co-director

Photo by Kristine Cofsky

Hayley Gray

Hayley Gray is a Vancouver-based director, writer, and producer. A graduate of Dalhousie University and Vancouver Film School, she has written and directed documentary, narrative, and commercial work. Gray’s films have screened at festivals around the world and aired on Telus Optik, the Knowledge Network, CBC, and Air Canada.

Elad Tzadok headshot, Unarchived co-director

Photo by Collin Morrison

Elad Tzadok

Elad Tzadok is an award-winning director, producer, and editor with a background in development and marketing. Born and raised in Israel, Tzadok moved to Vancouver, where he graduated from the Film Production Program at UBC and co-founded Scopitone Films. He has produced, directed, and edited music videos, commercials, narrative films, and documentaries.