The Hurghada Youth Film Festival will honor the memory of the late renowned composer Hany Shenouda, who passed away at the age of 83, leaving behind an extraordinary artistic legacy in both popular music and film and television scores.
As part of the opening ceremony of its fourth edition, to be held on September 10 at the Hurghada Culture Palace, the festival will present a special musical tribute featuring some of Shenouda’s most celebrated film compositions. The program will open with music from The Professional (Al-Hareef), whose official poster has been chosen as the festival’s emblem this year in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the passing of acclaimed director Mohamed Khan.
The tribute will also feature music from The Suspect (Al-Mashbooh), Shams El-Zanaty, No Consolation for Women (La Azaa Lel Sayedat), Hamada and Toto’s Gang (Esabet Hamada wa Toto), The Lawyer (Al-Afokato), and several other classics. The selections will be performed by musician Radwan Abdel Karim.
Festival President and screenwriter Mohamed El-Bassousy said that honoring Hany Shenouda reflects the festival’s deep appreciation for an artist who made invaluable contributions to Egyptian cinema. He noted that Shenouda’s memorable scores played a significant role in the success of many films and helped bring film music closer to audiences of all generations. El-Bassousy also emphasized that the composer’s creativity never waned, remaining active until only hours before the health crisis that led to his hospitalization.
Festival Director, journalist Kadry El-Haggar, stated that the late artist enriched both the music and film industries with an outstanding body of work, spanning hit songs and unforgettable film scores. He pointed out that Shenouda’s cinematic compositions achieved international recognition, including his famous piece “Longa 79,” which was performed at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards as actor Ramy Youssef walked on stage to accept the award for Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy for his series Ramy, which also featured the composition in its soundtrack.
Musician Radwan Abdel Karim said that Hany Shenouda played a pivotal role in discovering and supporting numerous talents in both music performance and singing. He expressed his pride in performing the late composer’s iconic film scores, noting that these timeless works have enjoyed remarkable popularity for decades and continue to resonate with audiences today.