Cannes 2026: Film Composers Take Center Stage at Festival
On May 18, 2026, the 79th Cannes Film Festival dedicated a full day to film composers, organized by Sacem. The day featured a masterclass, meetings, and a soirée celebrating film music. Tunisian-French composer Amine Bouhafa, 39, delivered the annual music lesson, becoming the youngest to do so. He composed the score for the animated film 'Carmen, l'oiseau rebelle,' screened at the Quinzaine des Cinéastes. Bouhafa aimed to introduce children to opera, weaving Bizet's themes into a contemporary context. Uruguayan composer Florencia di Concilio attended for her score of Léa Mysius's 'Histoires de la nuit,' in competition; this marks their third collaboration. Kosovar director Blerta Basholli and French composer Audrey Ismaël reunited for 'Dua,' a coming-of-age story set during the Kosovo war. Ismaël described her textured score blending string quartet and piano. The festival highlighted composers' crucial role in cinema, bringing them to the red carpet.
Key facts
- The 79th Cannes Film Festival held a day dedicated to film composers on May 18, 2026.
- Sacem organized the event, which included a music lesson, meetings, and a soirée.
- Amine Bouhafa, 39, gave the annual masterclass, becoming the youngest composer to do so.
- Bouhafa composed the score for 'Carmen, l'oiseau rebelle,' shown at the Quinzaine des Cinéastes.
- Florencia di Concilio scored 'Histoires de la nuit' by Léa Mysius, in competition.
- Blerta Basholli and Audrey Ismaël collaborated on 'Dua,' set during the Kosovo war.
- Ismaël recorded a string quartet and piano textures for the film.
- The day aimed to celebrate the link between music and cinema.
Entities
Artists
- Amine Bouhafa
- Florencia di Concilio
- Audrey Ismaël
- Blerta Basholli
- Léa Mysius
- Abderrahmane Sissako
- Souleymane Cissé
- Hafsia Herzi
- Georges Bizet
Institutions
- Sacem
- Festival de Cannes
- Quinzaine des Cinéastes
Locations
- Cannes
- France
- Tunisia
- Uruguay
- Kosovo
- Mauritania
- Mali