The President’s Cake

Directed by Hasan Hadi
Iraq
2025
103 mins
Winner, Caméra d'Or, Cannes 2025. A rare film from Iraq, this Cannes Director’s Fortnight selected charmer is a humorous and touching debut about a young girl’s daring quest to bake a cake in the time of Saddam Hussein.

It’s 1990 and Iraq, under the iron fist of Saddam Hussein, is suffering under sanctions. Extreme poverty is on the rise; there are shortages of medicine and food. Despite the circumstances, it’s still required that all Iraqis celebrate the president’s birthday, or face the consequences. An unlucky classroom draw finds nine-year-old Lamia given the unenviable task of baking the birthday cake for her class. Accompanied by grandmother, Lamia departs her home in the marshes for the big city, to procure the ingredients for the dreaded cake – a task that takes on unexpectedly grave importance. Beautifully shot and acted, and with a keen sense of time and place The President’s Cake makes for an exhilarating adventure.

A true gem and a real discovery from Hasan Hadi. With the right distributor, it could turn out to be Iraq's first nominee for an Oscar. Yes, it is that good... Don't miss this one
Pete Hammond

Tickets

Sat 16 August 2025, 10:30am
Orange - Odeon 5 Cinema - Odeon 5 Cinema
  • Original Title
    MAMLAKET AL-QASAB
  • Year
    2025
  • Classification
    Unclassified 15+
  • Country
    USA, Iraq, Qatar
  • Language
    In Arabic and English with English subtitles
  • Director
    Hasan Hadi
  • Producer
    Leah Chen Baker
  • Cast
    Banin Ahmad Nayef, Sajad Mohamad Qasem, Rahim AlHaj
  • Screenwriter
    Hasan Hadi
  • Cinematographer
    Tudor Vladimir Panduru
  • Editor
    Andu Radu
  • Genre
    Middle East, Women’s Stories, Cannes Selected
  • Company Credits
    Australian Distributor: Rialto Distribution
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