Australian filmmaker Anupam Sharma has developed a feature-length documentary titled “Framed” that examines the controversial case of Kamer Nizamdeen, a Sri Lankan student who faced wrongful terrorism charges in Sydney. The project unveils its first promotional materials ahead of the Toronto Film Festival’s inaugural market. Nizamdeen, who was 25 at the time, spent a month in solitary confinement after his arrest, only to have all charges dismissed. He continues pursuing efforts to restore his public reputation following the ordeal.
According to the filmmaking team, Nizamdeen became the target of a fabricated accusation when a colleague forged a document to frame him. The documentary explores how this single falsified record circulated through the system, with each person who encountered it accepting its validity without question. The production was shot across multiple locations including Sydney, Melbourne, Colombo, and New York, and incorporates interviews with Nizamdeen, his family member Najwa, and his legal representative Moustafa Kheir.
The documentary arrives approximately eight years after the arrest and coincides with Australia’s national conversation regarding Islamophobia. Sharma emphasized that the film functions as a compelling narrative where every person involved acts rationally based on the false information before them. The editing and co-writing credits include Karin Steininger, recognized for her work on “Anne Frank Remembered.” Forum Films is managing theatrical distribution across Australia and New Zealand, with other territories remaining available for acquisition.
Originally reported by Variety →
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