Iraqi director Hasan Hadi's debut film, 'The President's Cake,' has been shortlisted for the 2026 Oscars and won the Caméra d'Or at Cannes. Set in 1990s Iraq during the Gulf War, the coming-of-age story follows a young girl tasked with baking a cake for a presidential celebration amidst scarcity and fear. Hadi draws from his own childhood experiences, highlighting children as victims of conflict and questioning the efficacy of international sanctions.