The President’s Cake(2026)

PG-13
1h 45m
- Drama

Release Date: Feb 6, 2026 | Limited

In 1990s Iraq, 9-year-old Lamia must bake the President's birthday cake. She scrambles to find ingredients for this compulsory task while facing potential punishment if she fails.

Releases

Original Release | Feb 6, 2026

Feb 27, 2026 | Moderate

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Box Office Results

Updated as of Feb 15, 2026 12:33 PM ET

Results

Opening Weekend US & Canada:
$6,734
Total US & Canada:
$13,177
Total International
$748,801
Total Worldwide:
$761,978

Current Showtimes

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(U.S. Only)

Director & Top Cast

Hasan Hadi
Director

Baneen Ahmad Nayyef
Lamia

Waheed Thabet Khreibat
Bibi

Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Saeed

Muthanna Malaghi
Muthanna

Ahmad Qasem Saywan
Musa

Maytham Mreidi

Saeed's Father

Rahim AlHaj

Jasim

Thaer Salem

Majdi

Ali Khalaf

Clothing Seller

Fatima Abouharoon

Rahma

Mahmoud Mazen Lazen

Bus Driver's Assistant

Aqeel Wadi

Police Captain's Assistant

Mohammed Rheimeh

Izzat

Rokia Alwadi

Hiyam

Ali Saddam Najem

Drawing Officer

Abdelkarim Jasim

Malik

Mohammad Qasem

Truck Driver

Technical Specifications

Sound Mix: Dolby 5.1

Aspect Ratio: 2.39 : 1

Other Details

Country of Origin: Iraq,Qatar,United States

Language: Arabic

Summaries

Storyline

It's "draw day" across Iraq, when schools select students for the honour of bringing items to their mandatory local celebrations of President Saddam Hussein's birthday. Nine-year-old Lamia lives in the historic marshes with her spirited grandmother, Bibi. Before school, Bibi teaches Lamia clever tricks to avoid being chosen for the president's cake. However, when Musa, the authoritative teacher, calls Lamia's name for the most challenging task--the birthday cake--she has no choice but to accept. Refusing could mean imprisonment or even death.

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Fun Facts

Nine-year-old Baneen Ahmad Nayyef stars as Lamia, tasked with sourcing scarce cake ingredients amid 1990s Iraq sanctions and war shortages for Saddam Hussein's mandatory school birthday celebration, where failure risks imprisonment or execution for her family.