The President's Cake () is a 2025 internationally co-produced drama film, co-written and directed by Hasan Hadi in his directorial debut. It stars Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Sajad Mohamad Qasem, Waheed Thabet Khreibat and Rahim AlHaj.
The film had its world premiere at the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2025, where it won the section's Audience Award and the Caméra d'Or.
Premise.
Nine-year-old Lamia must gather ingredients to bake a mandatory cake to celebrate the President's birthday, or face punishment.
Production.
The film received support and grants from the Doha Film Institute, and SFFILM Ranin Grant. It was also selected for the 2022 Sundance Institute Directing and Screenwriting Labs. Marielle Heller, Eric Roth (who also co-wrote the film's screenplay), and Chris Columbus are among the executive producers.
Release.
The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors' Fortnight section, on May 16, 2025. It became the first film from Iraq to compete at the festival. Later that month, Sony Pictures Classics acquired distribution rights to the film in North and Latin America, Eastern Europe, India and Southeast Asia.