Latest news with #IraqiCinema
LBCI
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- LBCI
Iraq's first-ever director at Cannes Festival wins best feature debut
Hasan Hadi, the first filmmaker from Iraq to be selected for the prestigious Cannes Festival, on Saturday won a top prize for his childhood adventure under economic sanctions in "The President's Cake." His first feature-length film follows nine-year-old Lamia after her school teacher picks her to bake the class a cake for President Saddam Hussein's birthday or risk being denounced for disloyalty. It is the early 1990s, the country is under crippling U.N. sanctions, and she and her grandmother can barely afford to eat. The pair set off from their home in the marshlands into town to try to track down the unaffordable ingredients. Hadi dedicated his Camera d'Or award, which honors first-time directors, to "every kid or child around the world who somehow finds love, friendship, and joy amid war, sanctions, and dictatorship. "You are the real heroes," he said. He later shared the stage with dissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who won the festival's Palme D'Or top prize for his "It Was Just an Accident," the tale of five ordinary Iranians confronting a man they believed tortured them in jail. "The President's Cake" has received excellent reviews since premiering last week in the Directors' Fortnight section. Cinema bible Variety called it a "tragicomic gem." Deadline said it was "head and shoulders above" some of the films in the running for the festival's Palme d'Or top prize, and "could turn out to be Iraq's first nominee for an Oscar." Also from the Middle East, Palestinian director Tawfeek Barhom received his award for his short film "I'm Glad You're Dead Now." After giving thanks, he took the opportunity to mention the war in Gaza. "In 20 years from now when we are visiting the Gaza Strip, try not to think about the dead and have a nice trip," he said. Outside the main competition, Gazan twin brothers Arab and Tarzan Nasser on Friday received a directing award in the Certain Regard parallel section for "Once Upon A Time In Gaza." One of them dedicated the award to Palestinians, especially those living in their homeland of Gaza, which they left in 2012. He said that, when they hesitated to return to Cannes to receive the prize, his mother had encouraged him to go and tell the world about the suffering of people in Gaza. "She said, 'No, no, no, you have to go. Tell them to stop the genocide," he said. AFP
Malay Mail
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Iraqi director Hasan Hadi wins top Cannes debut prize for childhood tale set under Saddam's rule
CANNES, May 25 — Hasan Hadi, the first filmmaker from Iraq to be selected for the prestigious Cannes Festival, on Saturday won a top prize for his childhood adventure under economic sanctions in 'The President's Cake'. His first feature-length film follows nine-year-old Lamia after her school teacher picks her to bake the class a cake for President Saddam Hussein's birthday or risk being denounced for disloyalty. It is the early 1990s, the country is under crippling UN sanctions, and she and her grandmother can barely afford to eat. The pair set off from their home in the marshlands into town to try to track down the unaffordable ingredients. Hadi dedicated his Camera d'Or award, which honours first-time directors, to 'every kid or child around the world who somehow finds love, friendship and joy amid war, sanctions and dictatorship. 'You are the real heroes,' he said. He later shared the stage with dissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who won the festival's Palme D'Or top prize for his 'It Was Just an Accident', the tale of five ordinary Iranians confronting a man they believed tortured them in jail. 'The President's Cake' has received excellent reviews since premiering last week in the Directors' Fortnight section. Cinema bible Variety called it a 'tragicomic gem'. Deadline said it was 'head and shoulders above' some of the films in the running for the festival's Palme d'Or top prize, and 'could turn out to be Iraq's first nominee for an Oscar'. Palestinian films Also from the Middle East, Palestinian director Tawfeek Barhom received his award for his short film 'I'm Glad You're Dead Now'. After giving thanks, he took the opportunity to mention the war in Gaza. 'In 20 years from now when we are visiting the Gaza Strip, try not to think about the dead and have a nice trip,' he said. US President Donald Trump sparked controversy this year by saying he wanted to turn the war-ravaged Palestinian territory into the 'Riviera of the Middle East'. Outside the main competition, Gazan twin brothers Arab and Tarzan Nasser on Friday received a directing award in the Certain Regard parallel section for 'Once Upon A Time In Gaza'. One of them dedicated the award to Palestinians, especially those living in their homeland of Gaza, which they left in 2012. He said that, when they hesitated to return to Cannes to receive the prize, his mother had encouraged him to go and tell the world about the suffering of people in Gaza. 'She said, 'No, no, no, you have to go. Tell them to stop the genocide',' he said. Amnesty International last month said Israel was carrying out a 'live-streamed genocide' against Palestinians in Gaza, claims Israel dismissed as 'blatant lies'. — AFP
Arab News
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Iraq's first filmmaker in Cannes says sanctions no piece of cake
CANNES: Hasan Hadi, the first filmmaker from Iraq to be selected for the prestigious Cannes Festival, said economic embargoes like those imposed in his childhood under Saddam Hussein did not work. 'Sanctions empower dictators,' he told AFP, as they concentrate scant resources in their hands and only make them 'more brutal.' 'In the history of the world, there was no one time when they (imposed) sanctions and the president couldn't eat.' Hadi's first feature film, 'The President's Cake,' has received very good reviews since premiering Friday in the Directors' Fortnight section. Cinema publication Deadline said it was 'head and shoulders above' some of the films in the running for the festival's Palme d'Or top prize, and 'could turn out to be Iraq's first nominee for an Oscar.' The film follows nine-year-old Lamia after she has the misfortune of being picked by her school teacher to bake the class a cake for the president's birthday, or be denounced for disloyalty. It is the early 1990s, the country is under crippling UN sanctions. She and her grandmother — with whom she shares a reed home in Iraq's southern marshlands — can barely afford to eat. As they set off into town to hunt down unaffordable ingredients, with Lamia's pet cockerel and their last meagre belongings to sell, the film plunges into the social reality — and everyday petty corruption — of 1990s Iraq. The near-total trade and financial embargo imposed on Iraq after it invaded Kuwait 'demolished the moral fabric of society,' Hadi said. It sent the country 'hundreds of years back.' The filmmaker said he did not taste cake until he was in his early teens, after the US-led invasion in 2003 toppled Saddam and sanctions were lifted. Instead, with processed sugar and eggs out of reach, there was 'date cake' — whose main ingredient was squished dates, sometimes with a candle on top. 'As a kid you're sad that you're not getting your cake,' he said. But as you grow up, you realize what your parents must have gone through to put food on the table. 'Not only my family, but all of these people had to sell literally everything,' he said. 'There were people that were even selling their door frames.' Hadi and his team shot the film entirely in Iraq. It beautifully captures the ancient wetlands in the south of the country, listed as a World Heritage Site since 2016 and reputedly the home of the biblical Garden of Eden. Saddam drained them in the 1990s, trying to flush out rebels hiding in the reeds. But after the US-led invasion, authorities opened up the valves and the wetlands flourished again — even if they are now threatened by climate change. Hadi said he chose the location partly to make the point that 'the marshes stayed and Saddam went away.' To re-create the Iraq of his youth, Hadi and his crew paid close attention to detail, amassing vintage clothes and bringing a barber on set to trim the hair and moustaches of everyone down to the extras. They scouted out the best locations, shooting one scene in a small eatery reputed to have been frequented by Saddam himself. They chose non-actors to play ordinary Iraqis under the ever-present eyes of the president in posters, pictures frames and murals. Hadi said hearing US President Donald Trump say recently that he planned to lift sanctions on Syria after Islamists toppled president Bashar Assad last year was 'amazing.' 'I don't think the sanctions helped in any way to get rid of Bashar, but definitely empowered him to kill more people, and torture more people,' he said.
Iraqi News
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Iraqi News
Iraq inaugurates its largest cinema hall
Baghdad ( – In a landmark event for Iraq's entertainment industry, Minister of Youth and Sports Ahmed al-Mubarqa officially inaugurated Iraq's largest cinema hall, MAX, at Al-Jadriya Mall in Baghdad. The grand opening, held on Saturday evening, was attended by government officials, diplomats, and prominent figures from the film industry, marking a significant step toward the revival of Iraqi cinema. A vision for a thriving Iraqi film industry During his speech, Minister al-Mubarqa emphasized the government's commitment to supporting filmmakers and revitalizing Iraq's cinematic culture. He highlighted the role of modern cinema halls in creating opportunities for artists, expanding film distribution, and fostering a new generation of Iraqi filmmakers. Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sports Ahmed al-Mubarqa Photo by: Iraqi Cinema 'This cinema is a testament to Iraq's cultural revival and a symbol of stability and progress. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani has shown unwavering support for artists and filmmakers, ensuring that Iraq's film industry regains its former glory.' The minister also praised the owners and operators of the MAX cinema hall, encouraging further investment in cultural and entertainment spaces that contribute to Iraq's social and artistic development. Building the future of Iraqi cinema The Iraqi Ministry of Youth and Sports has been actively involved in nurturing young filmmakers. Over the past two years, the ministry has: Established the digital school for youth content creation , a specialized academy aimed at training aspiring filmmakers. , a specialized academy aimed at training aspiring filmmakers. Organized film production workshops across several provinces , identifying and fostering young artistic talents. , identifying and fostering young artistic talents. Supported the production of 12 short films, created by young Iraqi filmmakers, some of which were independently produced by emerging directors. 'These workshops have unveiled remarkable talent among Iraqi youth. Some of these films will be showcased at the Iraq International Film Festival for Youth Films, offering young directors a platform to present their work to wider audiences.' Iraq's largest cinema hall ceremony Photo by: Iraqi Cinema A cultural renaissance in Baghdad The inauguration of MAX cinema is seen as a turning point for Baghdad's entertainment landscape, providing state-of-the-art screening technology and an enhanced cinematic experience for Iraqi audiences. As Iraq continues to invest in creative industries and cultural infrastructure, events like this signal a promising future for the country's film industry, offering a new space for storytelling, artistic expression, and international collaborations. With strong government backing and growing interest from investors, Iraq is on the path to rebuilding its film industry, creating a thriving cinema culture that celebrates local talent and connects with global audiences.
