Latest news with #HassanHadi
Iraqi News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Iraqi News
Iraqi film The President's Cake wins Audience Award at Cannes Directors' Fortnight
Cannes, France ( – Iraqi film The President's Cake (كعكة الرئيس), directed by New York-based Iraqi filmmaker Hassan Hadi, has won the prestigious Audience Choice Award in the Directors' Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival. This marks a significant achievement as Iraq's first official participation to gain such recognition at the renowned festival. Set in the mid-1990s during Saddam Hussein's rule and the era of sanctions, the film tells the poignant story of Lamia, a nine-year-old girl living in poverty with her grandmother in the southern Iraqi Marshes. She is compelled by her school to provide a cake for the dictator's birthday celebrations, highlighting the immense social and economic pressures faced by ordinary Iraqis. Filmed in the historic Marshes, 'The President's Cake' draws on Hadi's childhood memories. At Cannes, the director emphasized the resilience of the Marshes, stating The Marshes remained while Saddam is gone. The Iraqi-Qatari-US co-production has been celebrated for its powerful narrative, offering a window into one of Iraq's most challenging periods. This award signals a vibrant return for Iraqi cinema to the international stage.
Broadcast Pro
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Baghdad Film Institute and 1001 announce strategic partnership at Cannes
By joining forces, the two entities plan to create new avenues for funding, development, production, and distribution of Iraqi stories. Iraq's film industry has marked a significant milestone at the 78th Cannes Film Festival with the announcement of a landmark partnership between the Baghdad Film Institute (BFI) and 1001, the country's premier digital streaming platform. The collaboration, revealed on the global stage in Cannes, represents a major step in revitalising Iraq's cinematic landscape and promoting its stories to international audiences, according to a report by Iraqi News. The new alliance aims to strengthen the infrastructure for film production in Iraq, nurture emerging talent, and open doors for cross-border collaborations. By working together, BFI and 1001 plan to ensure that Iraqi filmmakers gain greater visibility, both domestically and globally, as part of a broader effort to re-establish Iraq as a creative force in world cinema. The partnership was announced during a year of growing momentum for Iraqi film, and 1001 further cemented its commitment by serving as the official sponsor of the Iraq Pavilion at Cannes—marking the country's most prominent presence at the festival to date. The Pavilion was co-sponsored by Baghdad's VOMAX Cinemas and Iraq's International Development Bank, and organised by the Iraqi Film Fund. It provided a vital platform for networking, cultural exchange, and showcasing the depth of Iraq's creative talent. A historic highlight of the festival came with the inclusion of filmmaker Hassan Hadi, who became the first Iraqi director to be officially selected for the Cannes Film Festival. His recognition not only celebrated his individual achievement but also symbolised the rising global stature of Iraqi filmmakers and the promise of a new era for the nation's film industry. Institutions like the Baghdad Film Institute, a non-profit dedicated to training and production, and 1001, with its wide-reaching digital platform, are playing a central role in driving this cinematic revival. Supporting venues such as Iraqi Cinema in Baghdad are also contributing to the reawakening of local film culture by providing space for screenings and audience engagement.
