The Iraqi Independent Film Center, Human Film, and Image Nation Abu Dhabi are proud to
announce the official selection of Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream, the latest feature from acclaimed
Iraqi-British director Mohamed Jabarah Al-Daradji, for the 78th Locarno International Film
Festival.
Set against the turbulent streets of Baghdad, Irkalla follows Chum-Chum, an 8-year-old
homeless diabetic who escapes into mythical realms in a desperate bid to bring his parents
back to life. As his closest friend slips toward violence, Chum-Chum is drawn into a symbolic
journey—guided by the shadows of Gilgamesh and the winged bull—through a city that refuses
to die.
Blending ancient myth with modern reality, Irkalla explores the raw and resilient spirit of Iraqi
youth navigating trauma, loss, and survival. Inspired by the lost tablet of the Epic of
Gilgamesh, the film reimagines Iraqi childhood not as a tragedy, but as a powerful narrative
force—transforming pain into
The Locarno selection marks a major milestone in Al-Daradji’s celebrated international career.
With over six acclaimed feature films and documentaries, his work has screened at more than
500 festivals and earned over 100 international awards. A pioneer in the resurgence of Iraqi
cinema since 2003, Al-Daradji is best known for Son of Babylon, and in 2010 was named Best
Director in the Middle East by Variety.
“Irkalla is a journey through an unhealed wound,” says Al-Daradji. “It is the echo of Iraqi
childhood searching for meaning amid chaos. This film is not a story with answers—it’s a
mythical question about memory and identity, a thread of hope in a screaming city. I
wanted to show that children are not the remnants of war, but the seeds of life.”
INTERNATIONAL CO-PRODUCTION
A co-production between Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, France, Saudi Arabia, the United
Kingdom, and Qatar, Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream was made with the support of:

• The Doha Film Institute
• Région Île-de-France / Paris Region
• The Red Sea Fund
• AFAC (Arab Fund for Arts and Culture)
• The French Embassy in Baghdad

In addition to the lead producers, the film is co-produced by Lionceau Films (France) and Beit
Amin Productions (Saudi Arabia), contributing to its unique international scope.
The cast features Youssef Husham Al-Thahabi, Hussein Raad Zuwayr, and Samar Kazem
Jawad, alongside a talented ensemble of Iraqi actors and children.
Director Mohamed Al-Daradji and members of the cast are expected to attend the film’s world
premiere in Locarno.