Iraq’s first filmmaker in Cannes says sanctions no piece of cake

Hasan Hadi, Iraq’s first filmmaker selected for the Cannes Festival, criticized economic sanctions, stating they empower dictators by consolidating resources and increasing brutality. His debut feature, “The President’s Cake,” which explores the struggles of a young girl in 1990s Iraq under UN sanctions, has received acclaim and is seen as a potential Oscar contender. Hadi emphasizes the film’s authentic portrayal of his homeland, shot entirely in Iraq, and highlights the lasting impacts of sanctions on society, including personal anecdotes of hardship faced during his childhood.