Iraqi writer-director Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji is an alumnus of Berlinale Talents 2018 and London Film School, where he received an MA with distinction for ‘Children of God’ (2013), a multi-award-winni ng short set in the same Baghdad community as his debut feature, Hanging Gardens. In 2015, Ahmed began work on a feature documentary, Servant of Baghdad, which received development support through the Greenhouse Film Centre. UK-based ‘Stray’ (2016) premiered at London’s East End Film Festival and went on to have a successful festival run. Hanging Gardens was selected for RAWI Screenwriters’ Lab and Med Film Factory in 2017, and was short-listed for a development award at El Gouna Film Festival 2018 and at Malmo Arab Film Festival Market Forum 2020. Read More

synopsis

Brothers As’ad (12) and Taha (28) barely scrape a living as rubbish pickers in ‘Hanging Gardens’ – the local nickname for Baghdad’s smoldering dumps – yet they make the most of what they have. Then on e day, As’ad discovers an American sex doll. When he brings the taboo item home and presents her as a thing of beauty, Taha assaults his little brother for ruining their reputation. As’ad retreats to Hanging Gardens to make a new home for himself and his miraculous find. When As’ad and his friend Amir (14) discover she can speak, they teach her the language of seduction in Arabic and set her to work. Business skyrockets, raising their profile lucratively with local teens and dangerously with the local patriarch’s enforcers. Read More

Highlights

Red Sea International Film Festival, Saudi Arabia

Venice International Film Festival, Italy

Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Australia