Over the past century, cultural destruction has wrought catastrophic results across the globe. This war against culture is not over - it's been steadily increasing. In Syria and Iraq, the ‘cradle of civilization’, millennia of culture have been destroyed. The push to protect, salvage and rebuild has moved in step with the destruction.

Legislation and policy have played a role, but heroic individuals have fought back, risking and losing their lives to protect not just other human beings, but our cultural identity - to save the record of who we are.

Based on the book of the same name by Robert Bevan, The Destruction of Memory tells the whole story - looking not just at the ongoing actions of Daesh (ISIS) and at other contemporary situations, but revealing the decisions of the past that allowed the issue to remain hidden in the shadows for so many years.

Tim Slade's films have screened at over 70 international film festivals, where they have won best film and audience awards, and have been broadcast in 40 countries. His feature documentary 4 was released theatrically, the latter winning a Gold Plaque at the Chicago HUGO Television Awards, and being nominated for many awards including two Australian AFI Awards. The Destruction of Memory has screened officially for the United Nations, and featured in a program at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Tim has lived and worked in New York City for almost 10 years.

The film screening will be followed by a public discussion with Director Tim Slade. 

This event is free and accessible to the public.

View the full Spring 2020 Lectures and Events List.

The Destruction of Memory Trailer from Vast Productions on Vimeo.