New documentary tells the story of a championship 46 years in the making — and you can be part of it
Four decades of blood, sweat, and the deafening roar of Illawarra fans are about to hit the screen with a new documentary set to capture the Hawks’ journey to their first home-soil NBL Championship win.
And this time, the fans aren’t just watching the story, they’re helping tell it.
Har’ Work: Rise of the Illawarra Hawks is a feature-length sports documentary that charts the rise of Australia’s oldest basketball club from their humble beginnings at the Snakepit to the euphoric scenes of their 2025 NBL Championship triumph.
The film is a Relativity Films & Bottega Films co-production, supported by the Illawarra Hawks and South Break Media, and produced by Gerardo Ceres and directed by Keean Murrell-Snape.
It will blend never-before-seen archival footage, new interviews with players, coaches, and fans … and the community’s own contributions.
“This isn’t just about a championship,” said director Keean Murrell-Snape.
“It’s about a culture. The Illawarra Hawks have always been the underdog, and this film is for everyone who knows what it means to fight, rebuild, and finally win on your own terms.”
Call out to fans: Share your Hawks history
To help bring this story to life, the filmmakers are asking Hawks fans to contribute their memories and memorabilia to be featured both on-screen and on set.
Whether it’s for set design, archival montages, or hidden moments that never made the highlights. Your piece of Hawks history could help tell the full story.
Old jerseys – from 1979 to today.
Photos – games, fan days, road trips, banners, or crowd shots.
Video footage – VHS, DVD, phone clips, or digitised.
Memorabilia – signs, scarves, tickets, badges, newspaper clippings, etc.
Every item will be safely returned following production. Contributors may also be credited in the final film.
Send your items or questions to: har’work (at) bottegafilms.au Follow and submit via Instagram: @harwork_documentary
“The best stories aren’t just told by the stars on court,” says producer Gerardo Ceres, “they’re in the crowd, the letterbox scrapbooks, the backyard hoops. That’s why this film is a shared effort. We want the people of the Illawarra to see themselves in it … because they built it.”
For the community. By the community
More than a sports film, Har’ Work is a tribute to the Illawarra’s spirit and a time capsule of its basketball heart.
The film is scheduled for release during NBL26 and will be submitted to national and international film festivals.