An Iraqi writer and critic born in 1986, Mahmoud Hidayat is a researcher in aesthetics whose work spans cinema, theater, visual arts, and poetry. His publications include Anthology of the Hand, The Body and Objects in the Biography of Paul Shaoul, and Gog — Conversations with Khudair Miri, alongside numerous cultural articles and studies. His latest book, The Lumière Gospel — Texts in Cinematic Thought, was released in 2024 by Jusoor Al-Thaqafa Publishing and Distribution.