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The President´s Cake
January, 06 2026 | 7:00 PM | The Sebastiani Theatre
Official Academy Awards Submission for Best International Feature
Winner, Camera D´Or, Cannes Film Festival
Winner Audience Award, Cannes Film Festival
Iraqi director Hasan Hadi's acclaimed debut swept major film festivals globally in 2025, premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, winning the festival's Audience & Caméra d'Or awards, and is now shortlisted for the Academy Awards for Best International Feature. It tells the story of a young Iraqi girl trying to bake Saddam Hussein's birthday cake amidst sanctions, offering a humorous yet poignant look at life under tyranny.
While people across 1990s Iraq struggle to survive, 9-year-old Lamia has been selected to prepare a cake to celebrate the President’s birthday. In a landscape of fear and scarcity, where basic ingredients are nearly impossible to find, Lamia sets out on a determined journey throughout the big city in search of eggs, flour, and sugar. Accompanied by her grandmother, her loyal friend Saeed, and her pet rooster Hindi, she navigates vendors and police officers along the way.
Doors and Reception from 6:15 pm | Film starts promptly at 7:00 pm
Details
- Writer/Director: Hasan Hadi
- Countries: Iraq
- Runtime: 105 Minutes
- Director of Photography: Tudor Vladimir Panduru
- Editor: Andu Radu
- Producer: Leah Chen Baker
- Production Designer: Anamaria Tecu
- Costume Designer: Tamara Nouri
- Sound Designer: Tamás Zányi
- Produced By: TPC Film LLC
Location
Sebastiani Theatre
476 1st Street East
The Sebastiani Theatre Foundation is dedicated to offering first-class performing arts, films and creative educational programs that inspire and entertain the entire community while preserving and enhancing Sonoma’s treasured, historic Theatre for the enjoyment of current and future generations.