Iraq Selects “Kingdom of Reeds” as Official Oscar Entry

Iraq Selects “Kingdom of Reeds” as Official Oscar Entry
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Iraq has officially nominated the film Kingdom of Reeds (The President’s Cake) by director Hassan Hadi as its submission for the Best International Feature category at the 2026 Academy Awards. A joint production between Iraq, Qatar, and the United States, the film revisits 1990 during the period of sanctions imposed on Iraq, portraying daily life under hardship.

The story follows Lamia, a nine-year-old girl tasked with baking a birthday cake for the president amid severe shortages in the southern marshes, highlighting the contrast between official celebrations and the struggles of ordinary people.

The national selection committee praised the film’s artistic quality and its ability to represent Iraqi cinema and culture on the global stage, noting its blend of human and historical themes. Kingdom of Reeds premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, winning both the Audience Award and the Caméra d’Or—making it the first Iraqi film to achieve such recognition in Directors’ Fortnight.

It is currently screening in the Centerpiece program at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF50). Featuring mostly non-professional actors, the cast includes child actress Banin Ahmed Naif, Sajad Mohammed Qasim, and Waheed Thabet Khuraibet, with music by Iraqi composer Rahim al-Haj. The Academy will announce its longlist of international contenders in December.