Sunrise Films has secured North American distribution rights to British film “In Camera,” the feature debut from writer-director Naqqash Khalid, following lead actor Nabhaan Rizwan‘s nomination for the BAFTA Rising Star Award. The deal, inked with Together Films, sets the film for an April 15 release.
The film stars Rizwan as Aden, a young thespian trapped in a series of nightmarish auditions who decides to forge his own path after facing multiple rejections. BAFTA winner Amir El-Masry (“2021”) rounds out the cast of the formally inventive drama that takes aim at film industry prejudice and social hypocrisy through the lens of a struggling British Asian actor’s experience.
“Self-reflexive satirical filmmaking of this nature is relatively rare on the British independent scene — perhaps, in part, because financing and producing features at all is such a strenuous endeavor that artists are loath to bite any of the various hands feeding them,” wrote Guy Lodge, reviewing the film for Variety. “’In Camera’ is notable as a debut for the gutsy, darkly hilarious accuracy of its take on an industry where people of color are still patronized as interchangeable quota-fillers, and where notions of ‘authenticity’ are commodified to the extent that they become entirely imitative poses.”
Popular on Variety
Public Dreams’ BAFTA-winning producer Mary Burke and Prettybird U.K.’s Juliette Larthe produced the feature, marking the first title from Prettybird’s British arm. BBC Film and the BFI backed the project with National Lottery funding, with additional support from Uncommon Creative Studio.
The film had a stellar festival run including Karlovy Vary, Zurich, London, Thessaloniki, Stockholm and Goa.
The distribution pact was hammered out between Sunrise Film’s Andrew Nerger, who heads U.S. and international distribution, and Together Films’ Jess Reilly, international sales and acquisitions manager.
“‘In Camera’ is an extraordinary debut that speaks to the struggles and resilience of creatives everywhere,” Reilly said. “Naqqash Khalid’s distinctive voice and Nabhaan Rizwan’s compelling performance make this a standout title.”
Nerger added, “Naqqash and Nabhaan are both extraordinary talents and are primed for big things ahead. We are delighted to bring this fantastic showcase of next gen British talent to audiences in North America.”
The acquisition adds to Sunrise Films’ growing slate of independent features, which includes Luna Carmoon’s BIFA-nominated “Hoard” and Julia Jackman’s London Film Festival-premiered queer rom-com “Bonus Track.”