Vancouver Stanley Cup riot documentary premiering at VIFF

One of the darker chapters in Vancouver’s history will be the focus of a new documentary premiering at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF).

I’m Just Here for the Riot is a retrospective look at the 2011 Stanley Cup riot — where hundreds of people descended onto the streets of downtown Vancouver after the Canucks’ Game 7 loss to the Boston Bruins. The same thing happened 17 years earlier in 1994 after the Canucks lost to the New York Rangers.

At least 140 people were hurt in the 2011 riot, 100 arrests were made, and nearly $9 million worth of damage was reported.

Read More: Vancouver Stanley Cup riot focus of new documentary

Asia Youngman and Kathleen Jayme tell CityNews they hatched the idea for the documentary after meeting at VIFF in 2018.

“The idea of the Stanley Cup riot came up, it was something we were both really passionate about exploring. We just felt like it was the perfect opportunity, and timing and it was just the right story for us to collaborate together on,” Youngman said.

Asia Youngman, co-director of ‘I’m Just Here for the Riot.” (Supplied)

She says once an idea began to take shape in 2019, Canadian producers were hesitant to pick up the documentary.

“It didn’t seem like anyone in Canada was really willing to partner with us on this story and I think it’s potentially because it’s one of those stories in Canada that we’re not really proud of. This event that’s not just happened once in Vancouver, it’s happened twice in Vancouver,” Youngman said.

So, the two directors looked south of the border, pitching it to ESPN as part of the sports network’s 30 for 30 series. They say the American outlet picked up the project within months.

From there, Youngman and Jayme began contacting people involved in the 2011 riot.

“We think they’re so brave for coming forward after all these years to kind of relive this terrible event in Vancouver’s history and in their lives as well,” Jayme said.

“I think a lot of these individuals have moved on or have tried to move on. I think they never really had the opportunity to share their side of the story,” added Youngman.

The two filmmakers say the story was a complex one to tell, with many moving parts.

“Things aren’t black and white. Things can be both terrible, but you can also feel empathy and anger and all these truths can be real,” Jayme said.

Kathleen Jayme, co-director of ‘I’m Just Here for the Riot.” (Supplied)

“Getting to know some of these individuals and understanding their story and what they had to face afterwards, there’s a sense of empathy, but also accountability.”

The documentary has been shown at film festivals in Toronto and Calgary, but the filmmakers say the Vancouver premier brings some added pressure.

“I think we’re really excited, but we’re also really nervous,” Youngman said.

There are a handful of showings of I’m Just Here for the Riot throughout the duration of VIFF, including its premier on Monday, Oct. 2.

With files from Hana Mae Nassar and Sonia Aslam