Golden Camera for Best First Feature at Cannes 2025 & Shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film Oscar
Set against the backdrop of 1990s Iraq, where war and food shortages are everyday struggles, a president demands that every school prepare a cake for his birthday. Nine-year-old Lamia, selected from her classmates, must navigate challenges to gather ingredients and bake the cake.
Cinematographer Tudor Vladimir Panduru skillfully captures the city's contrasting beauty and tension. Hasan Hadi's debut film balances realism with poetic moments, presenting a child's perspective on the absurdities and quiet defiance in daily life.
"The President’s Cake" is the first Iraqi film to win the Caméra d’Or and the Audience Award.