Mohanad Hayal is an Iraqi filmmaker. After graduating from the Cinema Department of Baghdad University’s Faculty of Fine Arts he made a number of short and documentary films. His film Happy Birthday was selected for the 2013 Berlin International Film Festival and received the Rising Star Award at the 2013 Rhode International Film Festival. Hayal is also a seasoned journalist and is currently a freelance war videographer, documenting battles between the Iraqi Army and ISIS. He conducts filmmaking workshops as one of the founders of the Iraqi Independent Film Center as well.
He was also Salam Salman’s script and production advisor on his short film Gift from my Father which went on to win the 2015 Crystal Bear Award for Best Short Film at the Berlin International Film Festival.