Writer-director Naqqash Khalid’s feature debut is a psychological drama about struggling actor Aden (Nabhaan Rizwan, EE BAFTA Rising Star Award Nominee, Informer, Film Club). and his two roommates (Amir El-Masry and Rory Fleck Byrne).
About: In Camera follows a young actor – Aden (Rizwan) who is in a cycle of nightmarish auditions. After he receives multiple rejections, Aden takes it upon himself to find a new part to play. Formally playful and fiercely charged, Naqqash Khalid’s debut about a struggling British Asian actor confronts film industry prejudice and social hypocrisy head-on.
Aden’s name is not mentioned until halfway through the film, after all the scenes of his auditions use a number that he uses for his acting profile: 2408. He is also only addressed by the time of his appointment on a few occasions. He is also often told “Smile. Say the words on the page. It’s not that hard.” It gets old very quick and Aden elects to take an offer to roleplay as the deceased son of a wealthy woman as part of her own therapy – and for Aden, the much-needed rent money. This roleplay does become a very disturbing scene, and the sounds heard are some that I may not soon forget.
The scenes of Aden’s roommate Bo having dreams and showing those on screen in the middle of the chaos the actor is going through was a bit confusing. Although very interesting, it may be too confusing for some viewers. Keep the great footage but use it in another fashion that does not take away from Aden and his struggles.
Rizwan was previously named as a Screen Star of Tomorrow in 2019; recognition shared by BAFTA-winning Amir El-Masry (2021) who also stars in the film, and writer-director Naqqash Khalid (2020).
The film is produced by BAFTA-winning producer Mary Burke of Public Dreams and Juliette Larthe as a first title for Pure Phase and with the UK arm of UK-US production firm Prettybird. In Camera is financed by BBC Film and the BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), in association with Uncommon Creative Studio.
In Camera to launch on U.S. VOD platforms April 29, 2025
Source: Sunrise Films and Together Films
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