O-LYM-PIC

From Belmore to the Bundesliga.

When filmmaker Janet Merewether set out to film an ambitious group of 10-year-old underdogs from Sydney Olympic FC on a whirlwind tour, competing against junior football teams from the powerhouses of the Bundesliga and top European clubs such as Manchester United, Ajax and Benfica at the prestigious Legia Cup, little did she expect that she would also be documenting the involvement of (now former) Club President Bill Papas, who is making headlines for allegedly defrauding Westpac Bank for hundreds of millions of dollars. Who knew? Certainly not the parents. 

Essential viewing for all aspiring football players and sports fans, featuring insights from leading coaches such as Schalke’s Sam Farokhi, Hertha Berlin’s Florian Kliche, Manchester United’s Eamon Mulvey, former Socceroo captain Alex Tobin OAM, former Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Perth Glory player Nick Rizzo, and Sydney Olympic’s CEO John Boulous, ‘O-LYM-PIC – Football Dreams’ is a story of professional pathways, youth football and the multicultural history of ‘the world game’ in Australia. The film features exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from top Bundesliga clubs, and competitions which were shut down during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Why does our underdog national team struggle on the world stage, how can the sport be fairer and more affordable, and what can we learn from the expert coaches in Europe to raise the quality and accessibility of the game? 

A story about determination, ambition, and integrity in elite sport, but above all, this is a film about the dream of young athletes to represent their country and to play the game they love.

© Screen Culture / Janet Merewether

Sydney Olympic FC players and parents

Featuring interviews with leading coaches and former players including:

John Boulous (Former Sydney Olympic FC CEO)

Sam Farokhi (FC Schalke 04 Knappenschmiede coach)

Florian Kliche & Michael Dober (Trainers – Hertha BSC Berlin)

Gerald Prell (Deutsch-Tschechische Fußballschule)

Nick Rizzo (former player Sydney Olympic, Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Ternana, Perth Glory) 

Tom Stuckey (RB Leipzig Administration and Organisation Nachwuchsbereich)

Alex Tobin OAM (Adelaide City, former Socceroo captain and TD FNSW, Hills United)

Director, Producer, Writer – Janet Merewether

Cinematographer & Designer – Janet Merewether

Editors – Walter McIntosh & Andrew Arestides with Janet Merewether. 

Additional editing – Peter Humble

Music – Dappled Cities, Apodimi Compania

Sound Design – Liam Egan

Mix – Rob Sullivan

Music Licensing – Kim Green, Music Licensing

Conform and Grade – Roen Davis, CBD Central Business Digital 

Length – 86mins (feature documentary)

Format – HD 16:9

Release date – 2022

Production Company – Screen Culture Pty Limited 

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Screen Culture Pty Limited produces quality creative film, television, books and media art projects for Australian and International audiences.

Screen Culture, founded by award-winning writer/ director/ producer Janet Merewether in 2007, is engaged in the production of visually creative, quality long-form documentary and media for the Australian and International marketplace. Screen Culture’s productions are distinctively provocative, progressive and playful.

The company promotes the creative expression of ideas through the integration of sophisticated visual design with compelling storytelling. Documentary projects include Maverick Mother (2007), Reindeer in my Saami Heart (2016), O-LYM-PIC – Football Dreams (2022)