• Australian basketball star Ben Simmons is now trying his hand in the film industry, by signing on as executive producer of the film, The Australian Dream.
• The documentary is an Australian and UK co-production that looks at racism in Australia through the lens of legendary Indigenous AFL player Adam Goodes’ career.
• It was written by Walkley Award-winning journalist Stan Grant and will premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 1.

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Fresh on the heels of signing the biggest sporting deal of any Australian athlete, basketballer Ben Simmons has signed on as executive producer of a new documentary that explores the racial abuse directed at legendary Indigenous AFL player Adam Goodes.

The film, The Australian Dream, tells Goodes’ story from his stunning success as a Sydney Swans player before he became the target of intense racial abuse – being constantly booed on the field – and eventually retired from the sport.

“For the first time Adam reveals his profoundly emotional journey in his own words, and asks fundamental questions about the nature of racism and discrimination in society today,” Madman, the documentary’s distributor, said in a statement.

Simmons decision to join the film comes a week after he signed a massive US$170 million ($A242 million) contract extension with his NBA team, the Philadelphia 76ers, in the most expensive deal ever signed by an Australian sports star.

The Australian Dream’s producer John Battsek said Simmons’ involvement is a huge opportunity for the film.

“When we discussed the project with him, he was moved and motivated to help broaden the conversation about Adam’s experience and the issues the film focuses on,” Battsek said in a statement.

“Ben will help take the film to an international audience and show that the film is relevant beyond Australia, with racism in sport and culture being a global issue”.

The film was written by Walkley Award winning journalist Stan Grant and also features several prominent voices including Labor MP Linda Burney and former AFL star Nicky Winmar.

Leaders from national Australian sporting organisations including the AFL, Cricket Australia and Rugby Australia have already seen the film, with some looking to incorporate it into their Reconciliation Action Plans.

Cricket Australia’s Indigenous engagement specialist Courtney Hagen called The Australian Dream a “powerful” and “confronting” documentary which provides an opportunity for Australians to learn from what happened and ensure it doesn’t happen again to any other athlete.

“It’s an opportunity for us all to be open, not fearful or defensive and to start a conversation about what we all can do to promote reconciliation as a united front,” Hagen said in a statement.

The NRL’s general manager of Indigenous strategy Mark deWeerd said, “The film shines a light on the dark side of our national history, its direct impact on our First Nations peoples past and present and painfully dissects the personal trauma delivered to an Australian of the Year and national sporting icon in Adam Goodes.

“Stan Grant’s work is compelling and confronting and is required viewing for all Australians as we continue on the path towards true reconciliation in Australia.”

Sean Dixon, diversity and inclusion manager of Athletics Australia also said what it will mean for the public to view the film.

“[It] will help the Australian public not only understand the impact racism has on all communities, but also help people embrace the cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” he said in a statement.

The new film comes on the back of the documentary about the last three seasons of Goodes’ career called The Final Quarter. The doco, which aired on Channel 10 and Win, showcased the intense booing Goodes faced as a Sydney Swans player, which eventually led to him retiring from the sport.

In the weeks before the documentary began, the AFL and all 18 clubs issued an apology to Goodes for not doing enough during his mistreatment during the later years of his career.

“The treatment of Adam challenges us, and our right to be considered Australia’s Indigenous football code,” the AFL said in a statement. “Adam, who represents so much that is good and unique about our game, was subject to treatment that drove him from football. The game did not do enough to stand with him and call it out.

“We apologise unreservedly for our failures during this period.”

The Australian Dream is an Australian and UK co-production by GoodThing Productions and Passion Pictures. It received funding from Screen Australia together with Lorton Entertainment, the ABC and Film Victoria.

It will have its world premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 1 and will hit national cinemas on August 22.

You can view the film’s trailer here:

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