Hasan Hadi blends personal memory with grounded, human-centered storytelling in his works. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, he developed his voice through a series of short films, including SWIMSUIT, which won an Oscar-qualifying award at Urbanworld and secured distribution on HBO Max. A recipient of major industry recognitions — including the Sundance Institute Screenwriting and Directing Fellowship, the Sundance Institute/NHK Award, and the SFFILM Rainin Grant — Hadi is part of a new generation of Iraqi filmmakers bridging regional storytelling with global platforms.
THE PRESIDENT’S CAKE: Hadi’s debut feature premiered at the 78th Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight, where it won the Caméra d’Or for Best First Feature as well as an Audience Award before being selected as Iraq’s official submission to the Academy Awards and earning a place on the Oscar shortlist.
