Saïd Effendi: Iraqi film landmark to showcase at Cannes
Shafaq News/ Iraq's 1956 cinematic classic Saïd Effendi has been officially selected for the 'Cannes Classics' section at the 78th Cannes International Film Festival, the Al-Hassan Ibn Al-Haytham Higher Committee for the Iraqi Visual Memory announced on Wednesday.
The committee, which operates under the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, hailed the selection as a 'landmark moment' for Iraqi cinema.
According to the committee's statement, the film's inclusion follows an extensive restoration effort carried out as part of the Cinematheque Iraq initiative, with support from the French Embassy in Baghdad, France's Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, and the French development agency Expertise France.
Restored in 4K by the French National Audiovisual Institute (INA), Saïd Effendi is now archived in Iraq's national film memory collection. The film, based on the short story Shijar by Edmon Sabri, is regarded as a cornerstone of Iraqi filmmaking from the mid-20th century, with its screening at Cannes seen as a milestone to preserve and elevate Iraq's cultural and cinematic legacy on the global stage.
The broader Cinematheque Iraq project focuses on safeguarding 104 Iraqi narrative films produced between the 1940s and early 2000s.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
4 days ago
- Shafaq News
Sadr City revives Eid traditions: Swings, horses replace screens
Shafaq News/ In Baghdad's Sadr City, Eid al-Adha revives a beloved tradition as handmade swings, horse rides, and ferris wheels draw children back into the streets and away from screens. Families gather around makeshift carousels and metal slides built by local blacksmiths, while horses weave through the narrow alleys, drawing crowds of excited kids. The scene, captured by Shafaq News, recalls mid-20th-century Eid celebrations, with parents eager to preserve these simple joys and pass them on—connecting generations through a shared rhythm of laughter and tradition in the capital's working-class stronghold.
Iraqi News
05-06-2025
- Iraqi News
Nour Al-Waili's debut solo exhibition Number 9 opens at French Institute in Baghdad
Baghdad ( – The French Institute in Iraq – Baghdad is currently hosting Number 9 (الرقم ٩), the first solo exhibition by promising Iraqi visual artist Nour Al-Waili. The exhibition opened on May 22, 2025, and will run for two weeks, offering a unique window into the artist's creative evolution. Number 9 invites visitors to explore Al-Waili's artistic journey through nine distinct paintings and nine intricate collage works. These pieces are said to reflect a decade of her personal and creative development, presenting the world through her honest, spontaneous, realistic, and unfiltered perspective. The French Institute in Iraq – Baghdad, known for promoting French culture and fostering Franco-Iraqi artistic exchange, provides a prestigious platform for Al-Waili's debut. The exhibition's opening was notably attended by the French Ambassador for Human Rights, Ms. Isabelle Rome, highlighting its cultural significance.
Iraqi News
03-06-2025
- Iraqi News
Iraqi artist Yousif Abbas makes history with multifaceted role in a major US series
Baghdad ( – Iraqi musician and artist Yousif Abbas has revealed further details about his extensive and pivotal contributions to the major upcoming American series, Debriefing the President. Directed by Leslie Greif and starring Joel Kinnaman as CIA officer John Nixon and Waleed Zuaiter as Saddam Hussein, the series is based on Nixon's real-life interrogation of the former Iraqi leader. Abbas, the sole Iraqi participant in the production, composed the entire original soundtrack. He described this as one of his most challenging projects due to the social and political sensitivity of portraying Saddam Hussein. His goal was to create neutral music reflecting the unseen emotional aspects of the interrogation, skillfully blending Eastern instruments like the Ney, Joza, and Santoor with a Western orchestra. Beyond his groundbreaking musical score, Abbas played other crucial roles. He meticulously translated the script into authentic Iraqi dialect and coached actor Waleed Zuaiter in his portrayal of Saddam Hussein, utilizing 62 video clips to study body language. He also undertook linguistic proofreading of the script. Filmed entirely in Egypt by an American production company to capture an atmosphere similar to Baghdad, Debriefing the President is expected to make a significant impact. Yousif Abbas's multifaceted involvement marks a historic achievement for Iraqi talent on a major international stage.
