Iraqs Film Industry Reawakens Amid Abandoned Theaters and New International Projects

In the heart of old Baghdad, abandoned movie theaters stand dust‑laden, a reminder of Iraq’s once‑vibrant cultural scene. Meanwhile, director Ali al‑Bayati is filming a horror feature in the city, hoping to present it at international festivals and signal a new generation of Iraqi filmmakers.

The revival is gaining momentum after the 2025 Cannes Film Festival audience award for the Iraqi‑Qatari‑American drama The President’s Cake. The film, which follows a young girl tasked with baking a cake for Saddam Hussein’s birthday during a period of crippling sanctions, has begun theatrical screenings in Iraq after its international success.

Iraq’s cinematic history dates back to the 1940s, with early co‑productions with Egypt and a golden age in the 1950s. The 1956 film Said Effendi by Kameran Hosni was recently restored as part of the Iraqi Cinematheque project, supported by France, and screened in the Cannes Classics section in 2025.

The country’s film industry was severely disrupted by Saddam Hussein’s regime, the Gulf War, the 2003 U.S. invasion, and subsequent sectarian conflict. Many theaters were closed or repurposed; the Granada Cinema now houses a shop, and other venues have become warehouses.

In 2025, Baghdad launched a government‑led initiative to fund 58 film projects, but the total pool of $4 million would cover only one project in other countries, according to Wareth Kwaish, a spokesperson for the initiative. The city has also signed cooperation agreements with France to support its film industry.

"Reviving the cinema sector in Iraq is not easy, but it is not impossible either," Bayati told AFP. He said the key to sustaining production is building trust with Iraqi audiences to generate revenue.

Most Iraqi moviegoers now visit multi‑screen theaters in shopping malls where Hollywood and Egyptian films dominate. Syrian filmmaker Abdulhadi al‑Rakeb, who made a documentary on the old theaters, said their closure has led to a loss of the culture of watching films in cinemas.

The President’s Cake was shot entirely in Iraq but faced logistical challenges. Director Hasan Hadi explained that a shortage of experienced local crews forced him to bring in European professionals. "The local crew were not aware of international standards," Hadi said, adding that the foreign crew were unfamiliar with the local cultural context, creating additional problems.

Hadi also noted that the lack of local crews is one reason Iraqi filmmakers struggle to work in their own country. He called for workshops to develop local talent, increased funding, and better organization. "I am cautiously optimistic," Hadi said. "There are more people who want to tell their stories and make films, but not enough resources."

The government’s limited funding and the scarcity of trained crews mean that each production is a gamble. Nevertheless, the recent international recognition of The President’s Cake and the restoration of Said Effendi demonstrate that Iraqi cinema can still reach global audiences.

As Baghdad’s cultural scene slowly reopens, the industry faces the dual challenge of rebuilding physical infrastructure and cultivating a sustainable creative ecosystem. The next steps involve securing additional funding, expanding training programs, and ensuring that restored theaters can once again host audiences.

The current situation remains a mix of cautious optimism and practical obstacles. The industry’s future will depend on continued investment, talent development, and the ability to translate local stories into works that resonate both domestically and internationally.