The President’s Cake

The President’s Cake follows nine‑year‑old Lamia, chosen to bake a birthday cake for Iraq’s President in 1991—a time when the country is gripped by fear, scarcity, and the daily struggle to survive. Determined to find the impossible—eggs, flour, sugar—Lamia sets off across the city with her grandmother, her steadfast friend Saeed, and her spirited pet rooster, Hindi.

Through her eyes, the film reveals the moral erosion wrought by authoritarianism and poverty, capturing both the fragility and resilience of childhood. Inspired by Hasan Hadi’s own experiences and filmed entirely on location in Iraq with vivid immediacy, The President’s Cake becomes the first Iraqi film ever to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.