A nine-year-old girl. A dictator’s birthday. An impossible search for eggs, flour, and sugar in a city gripped by sanctions. “The President’s Cake,” the Iraqi drama that made history at Cannes, is finally landing on Netflix — and it’s one of the most quietly devastating films of the year.
What the Film Is About
Written and directed by Hasan Hadi in his feature debut, “The President’s Cake” is set in Iraq in the early 1990s during the Gulf War, as extreme poverty and UN sanctions collide with mandatory nationwide celebrations for Saddam Hussein’s birthday. Nine-year-old Lamia is selected in a school lottery to bake a ceremonial birthday cake for the regime — or face serious consequences. With her grandmother Bibi and best friend Saeed by her side, Lamia scours a resource-starved city for basic ingredients, turning a simple assignment into a tense, emotional journey through fear and survival.
The film is anchored by a striking central performance from young actress Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, alongside Sajad Mohamad Qasem, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, and Rahim AlHaj.
The President’s Cake: Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Title | The President’s Cake |
| Director | Hasan Hadi (feature debut) |
| Setting | Iraq, early 1990s |
| Netflix US release | September 3, 2026 |
| Distributor | Sony Pictures Classics |
| Cannes 2025 wins | Caméra d’Or, Directors’ Fortnight Audience Award |
| Awards recognition | Iraq’s official Oscar submission, made the shortlist |
| Streaming window | 18 months on Netflix (US only) |
The film joins a wave of acclaimed festival titles making their way to streaming, arriving alongside other September SVOD premieres. Its awards-season profile places it within the broader legacy of the Cannes Film Festival, whose history and prizes are detailed on Wikipedia.
For more Netflix release dates and international cinema coverage, TechnoSports tracks what’s new in streaming and film as it’s announced.
