She is of Iraqi nationality, holding a Ph.D. from the College of Media at the University of Baghdad in 2006, and a Master's degree from the College of Arts in 1996. She has been working as a professor at the College of Media at the University of Baghdad, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses since 2006.

She has held several academic positions, including:

Editor-in-Chief of the Media Researcher Journal since 2020
Assistant Dean for Scientific Affairs and Graduate Studies (2016-2020)
Chairwoman of the Scientific Promotions Committee at the College of Media (2015-2016)
Editor's Assistant for the Media Researcher Journal for five years (2009-2014)
She worked as a professor at the College of Media at the University of Sana'a between 1997 and 2000. She began writing in cultural journalism in 1989, contributing to both Iraqi and Arab newspapers. Additionally, she created a radio program when the Al-Mahaba Radio station was established in 2005.

Literary Works:

The Tree of Wishes – Short Story Collection (1990)
Dust of Cities – Short Story Collection (1993)
Apple Perfume – Novel (1996)
Inanna, Daughter of Babylon – Children's Story (1996)
In the Forest – Short Story Collection (1999)
In the Distance of Exile – Short Story Collection (2001)
Losses – Short Story Collection (2004)
Viagra – Short Story Collection (2016)
Texts from the Temple of Ishtar – Forthcoming
The Search for a Happy Ending – Forthcoming
Cinema Works:

White Dreams – Documentary Film Script (1992)
The Call of Iraq – Documentary Film Script (1994)
Nothing Exists – Fiction Film Script (2021)
Baghdad Taxi – Short Film Script (2023)

Muhannad is an Iraqi director and producer, born in Nasiriyah in 1985. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Cinematic Arts from the University of Baghdad. His film Haifa Street achieved international success, winning eight international awards, including Best Asian Film at the Busan International Film Festival and Best Film and Best Arab Actor at the Cairo International Film Festival. His films have been featured in prestigious international festivals such as Berlin, Venice, and Carthage.

He contributed to the development of Iraqi cinema by managing the first grant to support independent films in 2020, which enabled the production of over 15 films. He also made a significant mark in television by producing, writing, and directing notable works such as The Red Zone and New Baghdad. In the field of production, he participated in important feature films like The Exam and The Hidden Beauty.

A film critic and researcher in the aesthetics of visual arts, he has written extensively on film criticism for nearly two decades, with numerous articles and research papers published in Iraqi and Arab newspapers and websites, both print and digital.

He is also a translator, with many published works in cinematic and cultural pages. A researcher in the aesthetics of both still and moving images, he has previously founded cinematic pages on social media that garnered attention and appreciation. These pages aimed to adopt a comprehensive concept for developing public taste in approaching human artistic creativity through an ecological system that achieves the intended goals.

He has participated in many film festivals, either as a jury member, selection committee member, or in organizing critical sessions. He is also a member of the selection committee for the Baghdad Film Fund projects, which were supported by the Iraqi Ministry of Culture. Through this initiative, support was provided for many feature and short films.

Film Writer and Critic

Born in Nasiriyah, 1972
Worked and wrote in the arts press both in Iraq and abroad since 1996
Participated in numerous film festivals and cultural events in Iraq and the Arab world as a critic or jury member
His published works include:

Dimensions of Image and Communication, Tunisia, 1998
Our World in Picture, Ministry of Culture, Baghdad, 2006
Lives and Images: Writings on Cinema, California, Special Edition, 2011
The Magic of the Screen, Shahriyar Publishing, Basra, 2020
The Discourse of the Cinematic Film, Khuttout wa Zilal Publishing, Amman, 2024
Cinema and Literature, Edited and Introduced, Dar al-Shu'un al-Thaqafiya, forthcoming
Contributing critic in the book On Short Films, Cinema Notebooks, Abu Dhabi, 2006
Short Story Literature and Cinema, International Symposium of the House of Wisdom, Tunisia, 2014

An Iraqi filmmaker born in Baghdad, he developed a passion for cinema from an early age and studied filmmaking at the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad. During his studies, he gained his first professional experiences at the Iraqi Independent Cinema Center, where he worked as a production manager, which paved the way for his cinematic career.

Throughout his professional journey, Kwaish worked on several feature films that received critical acclaim and won international awards, such as "The Shepherd's Silence" (2013) and "Mariam's Road" (2014). His first film was part of the Short Film Corner section at the Cannes Film Market in 2015. During this time, he moved to Paris and continued working on his short films, including "A People Without a Homeland", which was showcased at the St. Louis International Film Festival in 2015, winning the Best Short Film Award at the Mizan Festival in 2016.

Wareth Kwaish worked as a producer and director for several local and international cinematic projects, collaborating with radio stations and production companies in Paris and Baghdad. He played a key role as an executive producer and first assistant director in the film "Hanging Gardens", which premiered globally at the Venice International Film Festival and was officially nominated for an Oscar as Iraq's entry.

Currently, Kwaish resides in Baghdad and is working on the "Iraq Cinematheque" project, which aims to archive and preserve Iraq’s cinematic heritage under the management and supervision of the High Committee for Iraqi Visual Memory, chaired by the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office. This project seeks to safeguard Iraq's films as part of the national cultural identity.

Additionally, he serves as the rapporteur and committee member of the Cinema Support Initiative, launched by the Iraqi Prime Minister. This initiative aims to provide technical and financial support to Iraqi filmmakers by offering funding, collaborating with international institutions, and working to build a strong and sustainable cinematic infrastructure in the country.

Through these projects and achievements, Kwaish aims to elevate the Iraqi film industry and open new avenues for international collaboration, while enhancing the role of cinema in showcasing Iraqi culture and identity on the global stage.

Master's in Cinema / College of Fine Arts, University of Baghdad
He writes film criticism for several Iraqi and Arab newspapers and magazines
Member of the Jury Committee in many local and Arab film festivals
He has published numerous film research papers
He is the author of three books on cinema: Cinema of Reality, The Architectural Structure of Modern Feature Film, How Do We Think Documentarily, co-authored with a group of Arab critics
Former Director of the Cinema Department at the Department of Cinema and Theater
Editor of the Cinema Page in Al-Haqiqah Baghdad newspaper

Cultural Editor of Al-Mada newspaper.
Managing Editor of Tatoo Monthly Cultural Newspaper.
Owner of the famous film column "Clacket".
Attended several international and Arab festivals, including: Rotterdam International Film Festival, Abu Dhabi Film Festival, Dubai Film Festival, Red Sea Film Festival, and others.
President and member of several jury committees for film festivals, including: Baghdad International Film Festival, President of the Jury for the Short Films Festival, and the Documentary Films Festival.
Published three books:
Clacket… Articles on Cinema
Biographical Films
Tarkho the Legacy
And upcoming:
Iraqi Cinema… Reading, Experiences, Generations
Sami Abdel Hamid Cinematically

Born in 1969, married with one son and four daughters, he is a distinguished leadership and academic figure in the administrative, cultural, and educational fields. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy and a Master's degree from Helwan University in Egypt, in addition to a Bachelor's degree from the University of Babylon. He currently holds the position of Acting Director General of the Department of Administrative Affairs at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities since 2020.

He has previously worked as a lecturer at several Iraqi universities and as a teacher under the Ministry of Education. He has also held several leadership positions in the Ministries of Culture and Education, including Director of Human Resources Management and Assistant Director General of the Department of Administrative Affairs. He has extensive experience in developing laws, regulations, and legislative systems, as well as preparing research studies.

He has participated in numerous training courses both within Iraq and abroad, earning international certifications such as (PMP). He has contributed to organizing workshops, cultural festivals, and international conferences, and has distinguished himself with efforts to promote a culture of tolerance and combat extremism. He is the author of more than 20 research papers and books in various administrative and cultural fields, with over 25 years of experience and no negative remarks or job sanctions.