The President’s Cake is a 2025 Arabic-language drama film written and directed by Hasan Hadi. It won the section’s Audience Award and the Caméra d’Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. It was selected as the Iraqi entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, making the shortlist.
While people across 1990’s Iraq struggle to survive, 9-year old Lamia has been selected to prepare a cake to celebrate the President’s birthday.
In a landscape of fear and scarcity, where basic ingredients are nearly impossible to find, Lamia sets out on a determined journey throughout the big city in search of eggs, flour, and sugar.
Accompanied by her grandmother, her loyal friend Saeed, and her pet rooster Hindi, she navigates vendors and police officers along the way.
Drama
Iraq, Qatar, United States
(Arabic, English subtitles) 105 Min
