Based on the tennis star’s book of the same name, “Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story” is now a 2025 Logie winner, emerging victorious in the Best Factual or Documentary Program field.
After world-premiering at the 2024 Brisbane International Film Festival, the film then released in local cinemas in November the same year, before airing on Channel 9 in January 2025.
“I want to say a massive thank you to every single person who voted, not just the fans, but the industry. And not because of me — but because the hard stories and the difficult topics need to be told to create awareness,” said Dokic, collecting the award at the Sam Pang-hosted ceremony.
“This is something that we did not even talk about ten years ago. Now, we have it in books and on-screen. So I just want to thank you all. We have done a massive thing.”
“This is not about winning. This is about a win for victims and survivors, especially of domestic violence and mental health.”
Produced and distributed theatrically by Roadshow Films, and directed by Jessica Halloran and Ivan O’Mahoney, “Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story” charts the former No. 4 in the world’s journey on the court and off, including surviving as a refugee and enduring abuse by her father and coach Damir. With the film questioning how and why the world ignored her plight, Jelena shares her story via to-camera accounts herself.
Fellow tennis greats Pam Shriver and Lindsay Davenport are also among the documentary’s interviewees.
“To every kid and person out there, I will say to every single girl and woman out there, never allow anyone to take your worth or happiness or smile away. Believe in your goals and dreams,” continued Dokic in her Logies acceptance speech.
“I am standing here as someone who literally had that dream. I believed in it. I didn’t give up on it. If I can do it, you can do it, too.”
When the film made its broadcast debut, Dokic described it as “an open, honest and raw account of my story but, most importantly, it’s one of growth and healing.”
“I hope ‘Unbreakable’ helps people learn and understand, so they ultimately feel empowered to act if they see or experience this type of behaviour. No matter who you are, or what adversity you face in life, you can survive and move forward.”
On the page, “Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story,” which was co-written with Halloran, was first published in 2017.