EXCLUSIVE: Cairo-based film and talent studio MAD Solutions has signed an agreement with the Iraqi Film Fund to handle sales and distribution of upcoming features from Iraq and promote filmmakers from the country.
The move come a year after the the Iraqi Film Fund secured a grant of nearly $4m (IQD5.17bn) to support independent filmmakers and help revitalise Iraq’s national cinema.
The partnership with MAD was revealed at the Marche du Film in Cannes, where a dedicated Iraq pavilion was hosted for only the second time.
“Signing this agreement represents an important step within the Iraqi Film Fund’s vision to connect Iraqi filmmakers and film projects with international distribution networks and global markets,” said Wareth Kwaish, executive director of the Iraqi Film Fund.
“We firmly believe that supporting cinema does not end at the production stage. It extends to building real pathways for these works to reach audiences and strengthen their presence on both regional and international levels.”
The collaboration is part of the fund’s broader strategy to establish sustainable bridges between Iraq and the global film industry, creating wider opportunities for distribution, marketing and integration into the international film ecosystem.
MAD Solutions co-founders Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab said of the partnership: “Since we started working on films, we have always been passionate about collaborating on Iraqi cinema and supporting Iraqi talents, recognising the richness, authenticity, and unique voices they bring to the industry.
“We strongly believe in the importance of amplifying stories from the region and creating meaningful opportunities for them to reach wider audiences. We are therefore very excited about this collaboration and the potential it holds.”
The Iraqi Film Fund is a national initiative dedicated to supporting the Middle Eastern country’s film industry by financing projects, developing skills and strengthening international presence through partnerships, co-productions and the establishment of a sustainable cinematic infrastructure.
The fund is also developing a slate that spans feature-length fiction, documentaries and short films.
Jabbar Joudi, president of the Iraqi Artists Syndicate and director general of the Cinema and Theatre Department at Iraq’s Ministry of Culture, said: “This collaboration represents an important step within the ongoing efforts to rebuild the presence of Iraqi cinema on both the regional and international levels, while strengthening opportunities for Iraqi filmmakers to access global production and distribution networks.
“We firmly believe that Iraqi cinema holds significant creative potential that deserves wider support and visibility, and that building strategic partnerships with key industry players is essential to developing a sustainable and internationally competitive film sector.”
In October 2025, France’s CNC and the Iraqi Film Fund signed a strategic agreement to support and develop the film sector in Iraq, covering training, policy and co production.
At this year’s Cannes market, the fund presented eight feature film projects at the Iraq Pavilion in a bid to connect filmmakers with French producers and forge co-productions.
The filmmakers included Kuhel Khalid (Hurra), Yasir Kareem (Evil Eye), Hassanein Khazal (Tree Of Oblivion), Ali Mohammed Saeed (Red Bus In Baghdad), Bayan Nabeel (Waiting), Yahya Al-Allaq (Four Fingers), Murad Atshan (Girsu My Sumerian Ancestors) and Ali Mohammed (Beatrice).
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