Emad Ali Abbas studied Cinema Departement in the Academy of Fine Arts in Baghdad. In 2006/7 he participated in the second documentary course at the Independent Film and TV College in Baghdad. He made his film, A Candle for the Shabandar Café, on his course.
During the filming, he was injured, but eventually recovered. His film won the third prize in the Student Documentary section of the 2008 Gulf Film Festival in Dubai and he has gone on to make another film, Speak Your Mind.