Screen Australia has announced a long list of new documentary projects that will be funded by the federal government’s film agency, among them a documentary series written by author Christos Tsiolkas.

Screen Australia has announced $3.5m worth of funding for 18 documentary projects. The projects include a feature-length documentary about tennis star Jelena Dokic, Jelena; Unbreakable, a film asking if we’ll ever have a black Prime Minister, a new series from Todd Sampson, and a two part series for the ABC by Christos Tsiolkas, which will be known as ABC’s The Pool.

Tsiolkas is best known for writing many novels that have been turned into feature films or TV series, including Loaded which was filmed as Head On, The Slap and Barracuda.

The Pool is described as a two-part documentary series from Mint Pictures for the ABC written by Tsiolkas. The series dives into the social, historical, and political role the swimming pool plays within Australian society and psyche. From the original pool (the billabong) to historic pools and iconic coastal pools, Olympic pools, outback pools and the humble backyard pool, the series unearths the history of the pool in Australia. It will be directed by Sally Aitkin (David Stratton: A Cinematic Life) and produced by Dan Goldberg (Food Fighter).

To see what else got funding head to Mumbrella.  

OIP Staff, Photo by Anthony Tuil on Unsplash