Cherif Allam is a Lebanese-Italian sound editor and designer known for his work on films selected at prestigious international festivals, including The Sea Ahead, Rebel, The Burdened, Machtat, Goodbye Julia, Naga, Hot Milk, and most recently, The Wave (La Ola).

From an early age, Cherif was immersed in sound, growing up in a household filled with the music of Ravel, Wagner, and Brahms. His passion for cinema developed just as early. Inspired by filmmakers such as Michael Haneke, Gus Van Sant, Bertrand Blier, and David Lynch, Cherif started writing short scripts during his high school years and later pursued film studies at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts (ALBA).

During his academic years, his fascination with free jazz, post-rock, and ambient music led him to the discovery of musique concrète—an art form that captivated him and shaped his approach to sound. This discovery solidified his decision to pursue a career in sound design, seeing it as a way to craft stories.

Born in Beirut in 1997, Cherif graduated from ALBA in 2018. Following his graduation, he completed a six-month internship in video and audio editing at Djinnhouse Productions before embarking on his journey at Db Studios Beirut in early 2019. That same year, he was selected to participate in the Berlinale Talents Beirut workshop, where he honed his skills in sound design and field recording. He started his career as a foley recordist, he progressed to sound effects editor and eventually sound editor, collaborating on award-winning films. In 2022, he led a sound editing seminar at ALBA, as part of a workshop organized by Db Studios. 

Cherif's primary focus lies in crafting immersive sound ambiances, meticulously layering diverse sound elements to shape the emotional and psychological dimensions of a film. He believes that sonic environments hold the power to subtly guide an audience's perception and emotional response, telling a parallel story beyond the visuals.

In late 2025, he expanded his practice beyond cinema by collaborating with artist Riwa Philipps on a multimedia installation commissioned by Ayloul Festival at Zico House in Beirut. He created the sound composition and designed an 8.0 spatial setup for the work, which paid tribute to the late Lebanese writer Elias Khoury.