About the organization
Ishtar Iraq Film Production was founded in 2017 by Iraqi filmmaker Huda Al-Kadhimi to encourage and promote Iraqi cinema talent within the Middle East and around the world. The company has already produced three shorts, which are starting their festival journey, and a third is in post-production. Huda’s first film as producer "Mosul 980" by Ali Mohammed Saeed, has been Generation competition of the 69th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale 2019). In addition to these in-house productions, Ishtar executive produced Mohanad Hayal’s and Atia Al-Daradji’s most recent features, both currently in post-production. Ishtar’s development slate reveals the range of cultural and social experience in Iraq and Jordan through documentaries and original stories that reflect contemporary human themes across the Middle East. The partnerships Huda has forged with emerging Iraqi filmmakers extend beyond the region into Europe and the UK. Several projects have been selected for prestigious workshops and pitching platforms, including Berlinale Talents, Jordan’s Royal Film Commission – Jordan and Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival. With offices in Baghdad and Amman, the company is well-positioned to collaborate with emerging talent and established industry leaders. Huda’s extensive experience in physical production and financing supported by her team’s combined backgrounds in business administration, marketing and social policy ensure an ethical approach to filmmaking that integrates creative and technical choices with social and fiscal responsibility. Ishtar’s goal is connect the passionate storytelling cinematic vision of their filmmakers with audiences around the world.