Student Framed: Sydney Terrorism Case Becomes Film

A Sri Lankan student's wrongful terrorism case in Sydney has been transformed into a feature documentary titled "Framed" by Australian filmmaker Anupam Sharma. The film details the experience of Kamer Nizamdeen, a 25-year-old overseas student who was arrested, detained in solitary confinement for a month on terrorism charges, and subsequently had all charges dropped.

The documentary posits that Nizamdeen was framed by a jealous colleague using a forged document, addressing themes of Islamophobia and deception. "Framed" was filmed in Sydney, Melbourne, Colombo, and New York, featuring interviews with Nizamdeen, his family, and legal representatives.

Director Anupam Sharma stated that the film goes beyond a simple "man the system got wrong" narrative, describing it as a thriller. The documentary's release comes nearly eight years after Nizamdeen's arrest and coincides with the Australian Federal Government's acceptance of recommendations from a national report on Islamophobia in July 2026.

"Framed" has secured development and post-production funding from Screen Australia, Screen NSW, and SBS. Forum Films will handle theatrical sales in Australia and New Zealand, with other territories available for various rights. The film also underwent a pitching process at the Australian International Documentary Conference.