BAGHDAD: In the heart of old Baghdad, legendary movie theaters stand abandoned and shrouded in dust, bearing witness to Iraq’s once-vibrant cultural scene. A few kilometers away, director Ali Al-Bayati oversees his camera operators as they adjust their lenses for a scene in his upcoming horror film, which he hopes to showcase internationally as a new generation of Iraqi filmmakers drives an industry comeback. Momentum is building, bolstered by recent international recognition for the Iraqi film “The President’s Cake,” which captures life under crippling sanctions during Saddam Hussein’s rule.

In the heart of old Baghdad, legendary movie theaters stand abandoned and shrouded in dust, bearing witness to Iraq's once-vibrant cultural scene. A...

Iraqi filmmakers are working to revive the country’s cinema industry despite decades of conflict, limited funding, and abandoned historic theatres.International recognition for...

BAGHDAD: In the heart of old Baghdad, legendary movie theaters stand abandoned and shrouded in dust, bearing witness to Iraq’s once-vibrant cultural scene. A few kilometers away,…

In the heart of old Baghdad, legendary movie theaters stand abandoned and shrouded in dust, bearing witness to Iraq’s once-vibrant cultural scene.