The President’s Cake
Sun 18 JanWhile people across 1990s Iraq struggle to survive the war and food shortages, Saddam Hussein requires each school in the country to prepare a cake to celebrate his birthday. Despite her efforts to avoid getting picked, 9 year-old Lamia is chosen among her classmates. The young girl must now use her wits and imagination to gather ingredients for the mandatory cake or face the consequences. Selected in Cannes’ Quinzaine des cinéastes where it won the Audience Award, The President’s Cake was shortlisted to represent Iraq at the 2026 Oscars.
Special screening
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Hasan Hadi moderated by Laith Elzubaidi (British-Iraqi screenwriter and playwright) and Dalia Al-Dujaili (Iraqi-British arts writer, editor and publisher).