Iraqi musician Youssef Abbas announced his composition of the music for the 47th Cairo International Film Festival, scheduled to take place from November 11 to 20, 2026, under the presidency of artist Hussein Fahmy.
Abbas stated, in a statement to the Video News Agency, that the collaboration with the festival administration began several months ago, following communication from artist Hussein Fahmy with him, noting that the work started with discussing the artistic vision for the current edition and agreeing on presenting music in a global orchestral format that preserves the authentic Eastern identity.
He explained that the project includes composing a complete musical set that encompasses music for welcoming guests on the red carpet, as well as for the opening and closing ceremonies, in addition to the pieces accompanying the honoring segments and internal activities.
Abbas added that he re-arranged one of the masterpieces of musician Mohamed Abdel Wahab in a contemporary orchestral style, suitable for the nature of the festival and its artistic standing.
He confirmed that the collaboration with Hussein Fahmy has been an important and fruitful artistic experience, praising his artistic vision and attention to the role of music in highlighting the psychological and dramatic dimensions of major celebrations, noting that his guidance contributed to realizing the work in a manner befitting the history and status of the Cairo International Film Festival.