Baghdad International Film Festival

Overview

The Baghdad International Film Festival is Iraq's most important film event. Established in 2023 and organized by the Iraqi Artists Syndicate in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities, the festival held its second edition from September 15 to 21, 2025, in Baghdad. The festival is sponsored by the Prime Minister of Iraq and has rapidly become the primary platform for Iraqi and Arab cinema in the country.

The second edition received 423 film submissions from Iraqi and Arab filmmakers during a 30-day registration period (July 1 to August 1, 2025). From these submissions, 67 films were selected across four competition categories: 16 feature films, 25 short fiction films, approximately 20 documentaries, and 10 animation films. The festival screened Iraqi and Arab feature films for the first time in its second edition, giving the event what organizers described as an international classification.

The festival is an act of cultural reconstruction. Baghdad was once a major Arab cultural capital with a significant film industry before the Gulf War and the period of international sanctions. The festival represents the effort to rebuild this tradition in a city that has experienced decades of war, sanctions, and political instability. The second edition honored 18 prominent Iraqi actresses and directors and hosted delegations from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Tunisia, with Tunisia as Guest of Honor.

The festival operates within Iraq's ongoing security and political context. Filmmakers should verify current operational status and security conditions before planning to attend in person.

Submission Details

The Baghdad International Film Festival accepts submissions through its official website. Key details based on the second edition (2025):

Competition Categories and Eligibility

1. Feature Narrative Film Competition: Films must be at least 70 minutes long, produced in 2023, 2024, or 2025, not previously shown on any online platform. Non-Arabic films must be subtitled into Arabic.

1. Short Narrative Film Competition: Films must not exceed 25 minutes, produced in 2023, 2024, or 2025, not previously shown on any online platform. Non-Arabic films must be subtitled into Arabic.

1. Documentary Film Competition (feature and short): Produced in 2023, 2024, or 2025, not previously shown on any online platform. Non-Arabic films must be subtitled into Arabic.

1. Animation Film Competition (feature and short): Produced in 2023, 2024, or 2025, not previously shown on any online platform. Non-Arabic films must be subtitled into Arabic.

All films must not have been shown on any online platform. This is a strict eligibility requirement that distinguishes the Baghdad festival from many other festivals that allow prior online availability. Non-Arabic films must be subtitled into Arabic, which is an unusual requirement that international filmmakers should prepare for in advance.

Awards and Prizes

Feature Narrative Competition

• First Prize (Best Feature Film): $10,000 USD
• Second Prize: $6,000 USD
• Third Prize: $4,000 USD

Short Film Competition

• Best Narrative Short Film: $5,000 USD
• Best Short Documentary Film: $5,000 USD
• Best Animation Film: $5,000 USD

Additional Awards

• Lifetime Achievement Award: $5,000 USD
• Audience Award for Best Film (feature competition)
• Best Director
• Best Actor
• Best Actress
• Best Screenplay
• Best Cinematography
• Special Jury Award
• Certificates of Appreciation for selected films

All cash prizes are paid in US dollars, which is notable for a festival in the Middle East and simplifies the prize process for international recipients.

2025 Award Winners (Second Edition)

• Best Feature Film: The Biography of the People of Al-Dai (Egypt), accepted by Dalia Mustafa
• Best Actress: Islam Mubarak (Sudan) for The Biography of the People of Al-Dai
• Best Director: Karim El Shennawi for The Biography of the People of Al-Dai
• Audience Award for Best Feature: Jarra (Iraq, dir. Ammar Al Hammadi)
• Best Actor: Bakr Khaled for Nadam (Iraq)
• Best Cinematography: Frank Kalbert for Ibn Ashuri (Iraq)
• Special Jury Award: Salma (Syria, dir. Jude Saeed), starring Sulaf Fawakherji
• Best Screenplay: Arza (Lebanon, dir. Mira Shuaib)
• Second Prize (Feature): Adam's Songs (Iraq, dir. Uday Rashid)
• Third Prize (Feature): Arza (Lebanon)
• Certificate of Appreciation: Thank You Because You Dream With Us (Palestine)

Festival History

The Baghdad International Film Festival was established in 2023 by the Iraqi Artists Syndicate under the leadership of Dr. Jabbar Judi, who serves as President of the Syndicate, Director General of the Cinema and Theatre Department, and Chairman of the festival. The first edition was a modest event that laid the groundwork for a larger international festival.

The second edition in 2025 marked a significant expansion. The festival received 423 submissions, screened 67 selected films across 20 cinemas and multiplexes nationwide, and hosted over 150 artists from across the Arab world. The inclusion of feature film screenings for the first time gave the festival what organizers described as an international classification. The festival also featured training and development workshops for Iraqi filmmakers conducted by prominent Arab artists and creators.

The festival's Guest of Honour program began with Tunisia in 2025, including special screenings of Tunisian cinema such as The Silences of the Palace (dir. Moufida Tlatli), a film recognized for its role in shaping Arab cinema.

The festival's establishment reflects broader efforts at cultural normalization in Iraq after decades of conflict. Baghdad's historical role as a major Arab cultural capital, with a film industry that predated the Gulf War and sanctions period, provides the context for the festival's mission of cultural reconstruction.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For Arab Filmmakers

The Baghdad festival is the most important domestic platform for Iraqi cinema and a growing platform for Arab cinema more broadly. The $10,000 USD first prize for Best Feature Film is a substantial cash award by regional standards. The festival's requirement that all films be in Arabic or subtitled into Arabic means the primary audience and jury are Arabic-speaking. Filmmakers from Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait participated in the 2025 edition.

The strict prohibition on prior online availability is a key eligibility filter. If your film has been shown on any online platform (including festival streaming platforms, VOD, or free online screening), it is not eligible. This requirement is more restrictive than most festivals and should be verified before submitting.

For International Filmmakers

The festival is primarily focused on Arab cinema. International filmmakers whose work is not in Arabic must provide Arabic subtitles, which is an unusual requirement. The festival's industry connections are concentrated in the Iraqi and Arab film markets rather than the Western festival circuit.

The festival does not have an attached film market. Its value is in the competition exposure, the access to Iraqi and Arab cinema networks, and the cultural significance of screening in Baghdad. International filmmakers should weigh the cost of Arabic subtitling against the festival's regional focus.

Practical Considerations

Security conditions in Baghdad should be monitored. Check current travel advisories before planning to attend in person. The festival is organized with government support, which provides institutional backing, but the security situation in Iraq can change.

The festival's submission process and rules may evolve between editions. The first edition (2023) had different requirements than the second (2025), including different production year eligibility windows and shorter maximum runtime for short films (30 minutes in 2023 vs. 25 minutes in 2025). Always verify current edition rules on the festival website before submitting.

The festival includes workshops and training programs alongside the competition, which can be valuable for Iraqi and Arab filmmakers seeking skill development. The 2025 edition featured workshops conducted by prominent Arab artists and creators.

See Also

Calculate your total festival submission costs and projected return using the Festival ROI Calculator. For Arab cinema and Middle Eastern film markets, see International Film Markets. For festival circuit planning and premiere strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. For the Fajr International Film Festival, a major Middle East festival in neighboring Iran, see Fajr International Film Festival. Visit the Baghdad Film Festival website for current edition rules and submission forms.