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  "path": "/the-presidents-cake-won-cannes",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-21T22:30:01.000Z",
  "site": "https://nofilmschool.com",
  "tags": [
    "No film school podcast",
    "Podcast",
    "Interviews",
    "Cannes film festival",
    "Cannes 2026",
    "Cannes",
    "The president's cake",
    "Hasan hadi",
    "Leah Chen Baker",
    "Apple Podcasts",
    "Spotify",
    "Google",
    "Check out more of our NAB 2026 coverage!"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\n\nIn this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins speaks with writer-director Hasan Hadi and producer Leah Chen Baker about the development, financing, production, and release journey behind __The President’s Cake__.\n\nThe conversation traces the film from NYU and COVID-era writing sessions through the Sundance Labs, the challenge of building an aggressively independent financing plan, shooting on location in Iraq with non-professional actors, and the impact of winning both the Caméra d’Or and the Audience Award at Cannes.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**In this episode, we****discuss:**\n\n  * How Hasan and Leah’s collaboration began at NYU and grew through shorts, writing check-ins, and shared creative sensibilities\n  * Why film school was essential for Hasan as a filmmaker coming from a country with limited cinema infrastructure\n  * Developing __The President’s Cake__ before applying to the Sundance Labs\n  * How the Sundance Screenwriting, Directing, Producers Lab, and Catalyst Forum helped build confidence around the project\n  * Leading with the film’s “risky” elements: a first feature, non-professional actors, no rehearsals, a period setting, and shooting in Iraq\n  * Building a financing plan through micro grants, institutional support, small stakeholders, and equity partners\n  * Why filming in Iraq was non-negotiable for the story’s authenticity\n  * Creating an international crew while ensuring every department included Iraqi local crew\n  * The realities of shooting with limited infrastructure and a long production schedule\n  * What changed after the film won at Cannes\n  * How Iraqi and international audiences have responded to the film\n  * The importance of setting an endpoint for one project so the next one can begin\n\n\n\n**Guests:**\n\n  * Hasan Hadi\n  * Leah Chen Baker\n\n\n\n\n\n\n****\n\n****\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Subscribe to the No Film School Podcast on:**\n\n  * Apple Podcasts\n  * Spotify\n  * Google\n\n\n\nGet your question answered on the podcast by emailing podcast@nofilmschool.com\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n_Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here:_\n\nCheck out more of our NAB 2026 coverage!",
  "title": "They Said This Movie Did Everything You’re Not Supposed To—Then 'The President’s Cake' Won Cannes"
}