Ahmed Hafez, Mohamed Attia, Suad Bushnaq Join Oscar Academy

In recognition of their outstanding contributions to Arab and international cinema, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 529 film industry professionals to join the Oscars' voting ranks.

The invitees include a number of Arab talents to join its membership, among them Egyptian editor Ahmed Hafez, Egyptian production designer Mohamed Attia, and Canadian Jordanian composer Suad Bushnaq.

This milestone marks a series of historic firsts: Ahmed Hafez becomes the first Egyptian editor to be selected as a member of the Academy; Mohamed Attia the first Egyptian production designer to be inducted into the famed organization;  and Suad Bushnaq, the first Arab woman in the field of music composition to join the Academy’s membership.

Ahmed Hafez

Ahmed Hafez is a renowned Egyptian film editor whose career spans more than two decades, with over 50 titles and more than 25 local and international awards to his credit, marked by a dynamic blend of commercial success and critical acclaim. 

He is a member of the American Cinema Editors Society and has shaped some of the most iconic works in contemporary Arab cinema.

His editing credits include the international blockbuster hit Marvel’s MOON KNIGHT and box-office giants such as THE BLUE ELEPHANT: DARK WHISPERS and KIRA & EL GIN — two of the highest-grossing films in Egyptian history at the time of their release — as well as festival favorites like INSHALLAH A BOY, the first Jordanian film to premiere at Cannes, where it won the Gan Foundation and Rail D’Or awards; was selected as Jordan’s official submission for Best Foreign Film at the 96th Academy Awards; screened at over 30 prestigious festivals worldwide; and won around 14 awards; and Marwan Hamed’s SETT, centered on Egyptian icon Umm Kulthum, which had its European premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.

Also on his resume is Mohamed Diab’s CLASH, which premiered in the 69th Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard and earned him three awards from the Carthage Film Festival, Cairo Film Society Festival, and Egyptian National Film Festival; Amr Salama’s SHEIKH JACKSON, which held its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival; and Hadi El-Bagoury's THE GUEST, which held its world premiere at the Black Nights Film Festival, where it garnered an audience award.

Mohamed Attia

Mohamed Attia is an acclaimed Egyptian production designer whose work bridges global prestige and large-scale cultural spectacle. 

Throughout his prolific career, he collaborated with leading filmmakers, including Marwan Hamed on THE BLUE ELEPHANT series, THE ORIGINALS, DIAMOND DUST, and EL SETT; Yousry Nasrallah on BAAD EL MAWKEAA, which premiered at Cannes, and EHKY YA SCHEHERAZADE; Tarek Alarian on the WELAD RIZK franchise —including its third installment, the highest‑grossing film in Egyptian cinema — THE WALLS OF THE MOON, and THE CELL; and Ahmed Alaa Al Deeb on AL AREF: AWDAT YOUNIS.

Beyond cinema, Attia has built an impressive television repertoire. His credits include AFRAH AL QOBA and TAHT EL WESAYA. 

In parallel, he shaped three of Egypt’s most celebrated modern cultural events — the Pharaoh’s Golden Parade, the reopening of the Avenue of Sphinxes, and the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum — designing immersive environments that reached millions worldwide and showcased Egypt’s rich history on the global stage.

Suad Bushnaq

Suad Bushnaq is a Jordanian-Canadian multi-award-winning film and music composer whose versatile style spans genres and whose music — described by the BBC as “reflective and touching” — has deeply moved audiences worldwide.

With more than 60 works across feature films, shorts, and television, her scores have been showcased at leading festivals, including Venice, Locarno, Hot Docs, Edinburgh, Dubai, and Clermont‑Ferrand.

Throughout her career, Bushnaq has been honored with numerous awards, including two Canadian Screen Music Awards: Best Original Score for David Attenborough’s SECRET WORLD OF SOUND and the Best Original Main Title Theme for the Syrian series AL‑BATAL, along with a record five Canadian Screen Music Award nominations. She also won Hollywood Music in Media Awards for HOTEL BEIRUT and her orchestral piece TOMORROW.

Among her film credits are HANGING GARDENS, which world premiered at Venice before becoming Iraq’s Oscar submission; FLIGHT 404, an Egyptian box-office hit and Oscar entry; YUNAN, which premiered as the only Arab film in the official competition of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival; KENTUCKY GAZA, which world premiered at the Clermont‑Ferrand International Short Film Festival; AMERICAN DOCTOR by Poh Si Teng, which premiered at the 42nd Sundance Film Festival before screening at festivals like CPH: DOX and San Francisco; NIGHT, which screened at Locarno; and HOBAL. Her work also extends to television, with credits including Netflix’s CRASHING EID, AL BATAL by Allaith Hajjo, and MOMKEN by Amin Dora — reflecting her diverse artistic voice.