"The President's Cake" opens the 16th Malmö Arab Film Festival 2026
Malmö, Sweden
The Malmö Arab Film Festival is proud to announce the selection of the Iraqi film “The President’s Cake”, directed by Hasan Hadi, as the opening film for the 16th edition of the festival, which will take place from April 10 to 16, 2026, in Malmö, Sweden.
“The President’s Cake” tells the story of Lamia, a nine-year-old girl tasked by her school with baking a cake for the birthday of President Saddam Hussein during the economic sanctions following the Gulf War. Amidst shortages of food and resources, Lamia’s mission becomes a challenging journey that reflects the contrast between official celebrations and the daily struggles of ordinary people. The film combines poignant human storytelling with touches of magical realism and was filmed in authentic Iraqi locations.
The film premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors’ Fortnight section, becoming the first Iraqi film ever screened in this section. It won the Audience Award and the Caméra d’Or for Best First Feature, and it has been selected as Iraq’s official submission for the 2026 Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film. The film also received critical acclaim, winning Best First Feature at the 2025 Stockholm International Film Festival.
“The President’s Cake” will be screened during the festival’s opening ceremony at Royal Cinema in Malmö, with the director and production team in attendance, providing the audience a unique opportunity to meet the filmmakers and hear insights into the making of the film.
Director Hasan Hadi expressed his excitement about this selection, stating:
“I am very happy that ‘The President’s Cake’ has been chosen to participate in the Malmö Arab Film Festival, especially as the opening film. This selection carries a special meaning for me, as the festival serves as a bridge connecting diverse Arab cinema and as a platform to present important voices to a wide audience. Having an important home and platform for Arab films like the Malmö Arab Film Festival is a source of hope and pride for every Arab filmmaker. I am grateful to everyone who believed in the film and accompanied it on this journey, and to the festival management for this recognition and support.”
Mouhamad Keblawi, Founder and President of the Malmö Arab Film Festival, said:
“We are proud to open the sixteenth edition of the Malmö Arab Film Festival with the outstanding Iraqi film ‘The President’s Cake’, directed by Hassan Hadi. The film offers a profound human experience told through the perspective of a young girl during a sensitive period in Iraq’s history, conveyed through powerful cinematic language and striking visual sensibility.
Its selection as the opening film reflects the festival’s commitment to supporting new Arab voices and celebrating works that carry strong artistic and universal human dimensions. We look forward to welcoming the director and the film’s team to Malmö and to sharing this exceptional cinematic experience with our audience.”
