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Biographies, facts and a photo for festivals, press, producers and programmes.
Short bio · about 60 words
Composer, director and actor in Dubai
Robert Abboud is a Jordanian composer, pianist, audio-visual director and actor based in Dubai. Since 2011 he has worked on more than 200 productions for agencies, brands and broadcasters across MENA and beyond. His short film A Cold Morning in November, which he directed and scored, won the Jury and Audience awards at the Franco Arab Film Festival in 2014. In 2024 he founded the creative studio Magic Glitch.
Medium bio · about 120 words
Robert Abboud is a multidisciplinary creative: composer and pianist, audio-visual director, editor and actor, working in Arabic and English. He began in Amman in 2011, directing, shooting, editing and producing for agencies including Leo Burnett, TBWA/RAAD, Kiwi and Young & Rubicam, for brands such as Pepsi, BMW and Ducati, and for MBC Group, Rotana Media Group and Al Jazeera America.
His one-take short film A Cold Morning in November, which he directed and scored, won the Jury and Audience awards for Best Fiction at the Franco Arab Film Festival 2014 and was selected for the Short Film Corner at Cannes in 2015. He received the SXSW 2020 Media Exchange Award in the Convergence Track, category Immersive Media.
Based in Dubai since 2022, he founded the creative studio Magic Glitch in 2024 and teaches at Istituto Marangoni Dubai and SAE Institute.
Fact sheet
At a glance
- NameRobert Abboud (روبرت عبود)
- Based inDubai, UAE, since 2022; Amman, Jordan, 2011–2022
- LanguagesArabic and English
- WorkMusic composition and piano · Directing · Editing · Creative producing · Sound design · Acting and voice-over · Teaching
- ExperienceSince 2011: 200+ productions, 100 of them directed or produced
- AwardsSXSW 2020 Media Exchange Award, Convergence Track, Immersive Media · Jury Award and Audience Award, Best Fiction, Franco Arab Film Festival 2014, for A Cold Morning in November · Short Film Corner, Festival de Cannes 2015 · Winner, Nescafé Arabia My Cup 2011
- AgenciesLeo Burnett · TBWA/RAAD · Kiwi · Young & Rubicam · Fluid Productions · Bidaya
- Brands and mediaPepsi · 7Up · McDonald's · BMW · Ducati · Huawei · Zain · Orange · Philips · Hamleys · MBC Group · Rotana Media Group · Al Jazeera America · Jordan Tourism Board · Expo 2020
- Acting30+ projects, including the Thabah Ghleis & Thar Ghleis trilogy (Arab Telemedia Group, starring role, 2017) and Dinner for Two (We Create Drama Film Festival, 2024)
- TeachingIstituto Marangoni Dubai (2025) · SAE Institute Dubai (2024) · SAE Institute Jordan (university lecturer)
- EducationBA Digital Filmmaking, First Class, Middlesex University London · Acting for Film, New York Film Academy · Themed Entertainment Design, Purdue University (2025)
- StudioFounder of Magic Glitch (Magic Glitch LLC), Dubai, 2024