The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

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From theatre shows and seminars to competitions, award ceremonies, film screenings, and more, Cairo International Book Fair brings forth a plethora of cultural gatherings every year. For its 51^stedition, the fair began on the 22^nd of January and is due to run until the 4^th of February, at Egypt International Exhibition Center in New Cairo.

On Tuesday, the 28^th of January, the fair held a film screening of Qaherat Naguib Mahfouz – Falsafet El Makan (Naguib Mahfouz’s Cairo – Philosophy of the Place) that showcased the most prominent locations where late legendary writer, Naguib Mahfouz’s novels were set. They span from El Moez Street and Khan El Khalily, to Fishawy café and other hotspots in Downtown Cairo, according to Veto Gate. The screening was followed by a seminar featuring the film’s director, Amira El Fekky, who discussed her vision and the process of directing the film.

Later that day, a session about feminist films launched with Been Bahreen (Between Two Seas), which is set in Egypt’s rural areas and follows one particular family’s lively trail. A discussion took place after the screening with screenwriter, Mariam Naoum, along with Tharaa Goubel.

According to Egyptian Streets, the Oscar-nominated short film, Ave Maria (El Salam Alayk Ya Mariam) by director, Basil Khalil was also screened earlier that day, which follows the stories of Palestinian nuns in the middle of the conflict. Also on the watch-list was Nocturne in Black by director, Jimmy Keyrouz, which follows a Syrian boy called Karim who struggles to rebuild his piano after it being destroyed by terrorists.

AVE MARIA – TRAILER from Ouat Media on Vimeo.

Next up, four Arab short films will be screened on the 3^rd of February, which includes The Parrot (Al Babagha’), directed by Darin J.Sallam and Amjad Al-Rasheed, and starring Hend Sabry. It follows a Jewish family in 1948 Tunisia haunted by a house guest, along with a big blue parrot left behind by its former residents.