The President’s Cake

BONUS: Award-winning, world renowned Iraqi oud virtuoso, composer, and local ABQ treasure Rahim AlHaj, who has a featured role in the film, will be on hand for a post-screening Q&A on April 11!

OFFICIAL IRAQ ENTRY IN BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE AT THE 98TH ACADEMY AWARDS!

Starring Baneen Ahmed Nayyef, Waheeda Thabet, Sajad Mohamad Qasem – 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. The President’s Cake, Winner of the Camera D’Or and Audience Award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, embodies innocence, imagination, and inner strength.

“This is an impressive first feature from the writer-director Hasan Hadi, a sharply observed, bittersweet, child’s-eye odyssey that avoids cute-kid cliches.” – Wendy Ide, Observer (UK)

“The riveting drama The President’s Cake takes an unforgettable journey through Baghdad in 1990. In a politically oppressed society, a 9-year-old girl is under deadline pressure to present a cake at her school to celebrate Saddam Hussein’s birthday.” – Carla Hay, Culture Mix