When Iraqi helmer-writer Hasan Hadi nabbed the Golden Camera for best first feature at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival with “The President’s Cake,” Iranian director Jafar Panahi, winner of the main competition, offered some advice. “Be careful,” he said, “I got that award 30 years ago and it raised expectations for the second feature. Just make it and don’t worry about it.”
Since “The President’s Cake” became the first-ever Iraqi title to land on the international feature Oscar shortlist, Baghdad-based Hadi finds the expectations around his feature debut higher than ever. Discussing the “incredible honor,” he marvels, “For the first time, I feel like a film is being treated
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