"Saeed Effendi" Selected to Represent Iraq at Cannes Film Festival
Baghdad - INA
The Al-Hassan Ibn Al-Haytham Committee for the Visual Memory of Iraq - Office of the Prime Minister announced today, Wednesday, the selection of the film "Saeed Effendi" to represent Iraq at the Cannes Film Festival.
A statement from the committee, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), stated that "the Al-Hassan Ibn Al-Haytham Committee for the Visual Memory of Iraq - Office of the Prime Minister of Iraq, proudly announced, within the framework of the Iraq Cinematheque project, the selection of the film (Saeed Effendi), directed by Kamran Hosni and produced in 1956, to officially represent Iraq at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, in the Cannes Classics section."
The statement added, "This selection, the first of its kind in the history of Iraqi cinema, is the result of the efforts of the Al-Hassan Ibn Al-Haytham Committee for the Visual Memory of Iraq - Office of the Prime Minister of Iraq, with the support of the French Embassy in Iraq and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and implemented by Expertise France through the Iraq Cinematheque project."
He pointed out that "the film was restored in 4K resolution at the French National Institute of Audiovisual Arts (INA) using the original negative," noting that "the restored copy of the film has been preserved by the Hassan ibn al-Haytham Committee for the Visual Memory of Iraq." The statement continued, "(Saeed Effendi) is based on the story (Shijjar) by Edmond Sabri and is considered one of the most prominent Iraqi classics. This unprecedented step represents a revival of Iraqi cinematic heritage and its transmission to the world through its widest possible doors."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Iraqi News
18 hours ago
- Iraqi News
Nour Al-Waili's debut solo exhibition Number 9 opens at French Institute in Baghdad
Baghdad ( – The French Institute in Iraq – Baghdad is currently hosting Number 9 (الرقم ٩), the first solo exhibition by promising Iraqi visual artist Nour Al-Waili. The exhibition opened on May 22, 2025, and will run for two weeks, offering a unique window into the artist's creative evolution. Number 9 invites visitors to explore Al-Waili's artistic journey through nine distinct paintings and nine intricate collage works. These pieces are said to reflect a decade of her personal and creative development, presenting the world through her honest, spontaneous, realistic, and unfiltered perspective. The French Institute in Iraq – Baghdad, known for promoting French culture and fostering Franco-Iraqi artistic exchange, provides a prestigious platform for Al-Waili's debut. The exhibition's opening was notably attended by the French Ambassador for Human Rights, Ms. Isabelle Rome, highlighting its cultural significance.
Iraqi News
3 days ago
- Iraqi News
Iraqi artist Yousif Abbas makes history with multifaceted role in a major US series
Baghdad ( – Iraqi musician and artist Yousif Abbas has revealed further details about his extensive and pivotal contributions to the major upcoming American series, Debriefing the President. Directed by Leslie Greif and starring Joel Kinnaman as CIA officer John Nixon and Waleed Zuaiter as Saddam Hussein, the series is based on Nixon's real-life interrogation of the former Iraqi leader. Abbas, the sole Iraqi participant in the production, composed the entire original soundtrack. He described this as one of his most challenging projects due to the social and political sensitivity of portraying Saddam Hussein. His goal was to create neutral music reflecting the unseen emotional aspects of the interrogation, skillfully blending Eastern instruments like the Ney, Joza, and Santoor with a Western orchestra. Beyond his groundbreaking musical score, Abbas played other crucial roles. He meticulously translated the script into authentic Iraqi dialect and coached actor Waleed Zuaiter in his portrayal of Saddam Hussein, utilizing 62 video clips to study body language. He also undertook linguistic proofreading of the script. Filmed entirely in Egypt by an American production company to capture an atmosphere similar to Baghdad, Debriefing the President is expected to make a significant impact. Yousif Abbas's multifaceted involvement marks a historic achievement for Iraqi talent on a major international stage.
Iraqi News
3 days ago
- Iraqi News
Iraqi Musician Yousif Abbas Leaves a Musical Imprint on a Global Television Epic
In a landmark achievement for Iraqi art, renowned composer Yousif Abbas has captured international attention through his distinguished contribution to the high-profile American series Debriefing the President. The production, inspired by the memoirs of U.S. intelligence officer John Nixon, is helmed by global media titan Leslie Greif, co-founder of Warner Bros. Hailed as one of the most significant American television productions of the year, the series boasts a full original score composed by Abbas, an unprecedented feat marking the first time an Iraqi musician has been entrusted with scoring a Hollywood project of such caliber. Abbas's involvement, however, transcended the realm of composition. He was a constant presence on set, meticulously translating scripts into authentic Iraqi Arabic, coaching both American and international actors in the dialect, and even appearing in select scenes. His responsibilities further extended to supervising the dubbing and recording of dialogue in the local vernacular, as well as ensuring the cultural authenticity of all scenes set in Iraq. Notably, Yousif Abbas is no stranger to the world of dramatic composition; his previous work includes musical scores for acclaimed Iraqi series such as Watan and Al-Naqeeb, among others.
