The President’s Cake

November 16, 2026

Showings 4:30, 7:00 and 9:10pm

Iraq | 2025 | Arabic with English titles | Drama, Middle Eastern Cultures | 105 Minutes

Hasan Hadi’s heartbreaking The President’s Cake, a multiple award winner at Cannes, is an unforgettable look at a country crushed by poverty and international sanctions. This film was inspired by the director’s memories and interpretations of growing up under an authoritarian regime.

Set in 1990s Iraq under Saddam Hussein’s regime, a 9-year-old girl named Lamia draws the short straw at school and is forced to bake a mandatory birthday cake for the president. Facing severe consequences or imprisonment if she fails, she must brave a journey into the city with her grandmother and best friend to track down scarce ingredients like eggs, flour, and sugar amidst a country crippled by economic sanctions and poverty. This film features outstanding perfomances by two young actors.