Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji

Ahmed Yassin is an award-winning Iraqi writer-director. His short film ''Children of God'' (2015) received several international honours, including the Muhr Award for Best Arab Short, the FIPRESCI Award, the Seoul Guro Award for Best Live Action Short, and the Jury Award at the Cannes Disabled Film Festival. His debut feature, ''Hanging Gardens'' (2022), premiered at the Venice International Film Festival. The film won the Golden Yusr for Best Feature Film and the Yusr Award for Best Cinematic Achievement at the Red Sea International Film Festival, as well as the Jury Award at the Amman International Film Festival, among other honours. It was also selected as Iraq’s official submission to the 96th Academy Awards.