The President’s Cake
2025
The film, a coming-of-age story set in 1990s Saddam Hussein's Iraq, follows a young girl tasked with baking the dictator's birthday cake amidst severe sanctions, exploring themes of survival, resilience, and authoritarianism through a blend of humor and poignancy, as reported by.
Writer & Director
Hasan Hadi
Cast
Baneen Ahmad Nayyef
Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Ahmad Qasem Saywan
Rahim AlHaj
Waheed Thabet Khreibat
Muthanna Malaghi
Awards & Recognition
Cannes Film Festival
At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Iraqi director Hasan Hadi's debut film, The President's Cake, made history by winning the prestigious Caméra d'Or (Best First Feature) and the Directors' Fortnight Audience Award, a major breakthrough for Iraqi cinema.