Iraq’s first ever director in Cannes wins best feature debut

Hasan Hadi became the first Iraqi filmmaker selected for the Cannes Festival, winning the Camera d’Or for his film “The President’s Cake,” which tells the story of nine-year-old Lamia baking a cake for Saddam Hussein during UN sanctions in the early 1990s. Hadi dedicated his award to children finding joy amid adversity, while his film received critical acclaim, with some suggesting it could be Iraq’s first Oscar nominee. Additionally, Palestinian filmmakers were recognized, with Tawfeek Barhom addressing the war in Gaza and Gazan twins Arab and Tarzan Nasser dedicating their award to their homeland’s suffering.