Nine-year-old Lamia lives in the Mesopotamian marshes with her fiercely independent grandmother, Bibi. Before school, Bibi teaches Lamia clever tricks to avoid being chosen—but despite their efforts, Lamia is selected for the most daunting task: baking the president’s birthday cake. Refusing is not an option.Back at home, Lamia and Bibi prepare a list of ingredients and journey to the city with their treasured belongings—and Lamia’s beloved pet rooster, Hindi, in tow. Once there, Lamia uncovers a startling truth about Bibi’s real intentions. What follows is a bittersweet adventure of unexpected friendships, quiet defiance, and a young girl’s resilience.
Hasan Hadi is an Iraqi writer/director. Hasan grew up in southern Iraq, during wartime, and over the years worked in journalism, production, and as an adjunct professor at NYU’s Graduate Film Program. He received the Gotham-Marcie Bloom Fellowship, the Black Family Production Prize and the Sloan Foundation Production Award. He is a 2022 Sundance Lab Fellow and the recipient of the 2022 Sundance/NHK Award, SFFILM Rainin Grant, and Doha Film Institute Grant for his feature debut, THE PRESIDENT’S CAKE.
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: Hasan Hadi
PRODUCED BY Leah Chen Baker
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Eric Roth, Marielle Heller, Chris Stolte, Heidi Stolte, Naia Cucukov, Peter Richards, Chris Columbus, Eleanor Columbus, Robina Riccitiello, Josh Peters, Kareem Mortimer, Trevite Willis, Julia Chatwin, Donna Gruneich, Kevin Gruneich, Huda Abbood Al-Radhi, Ali Hadi Al-Musawi, Veronica C. Baker, Jonathan Gardner
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Tudor Vladimir Panduru
STARRING Banin Ahmad Nayef, Sajad Mohamad Qasem, Waheed Thabet Khreibat and Rahim AlHaj
SALES: Films Boutique (International Sales), UTA/WME (North American Sales)
