Sunday 14 September

Rock the Casbah screening at Zawya Cinema, 1.30pm, 3.30pm and 9.30pm

The French-Moroccan drama, the filmmaker’s first score since 2005, premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival to glowing reviews. Set in Tangiers, the film follows three women as they gather for three days following their father’s death. The result is a jumble of heartaches and joyous memories that push the sisters into long overdue confrontations. The film stars veteran actor Omar Sherif and Lebanese actress/director Nadine Labaki, and is directed by Laila Marackchi (Morocco).

Odeon Cinema, 4 Abdel-Hamid Said Street, off Talaat Harb Street, Downtown, Cairo

Hadouta Masreya ("An Egyptian Story") screening at Zawya, 6.30pm

A sequel to Alexandria ... Why?, the film is centered around Yehia (Nour El-Sherif), who gazes back at his life after he has to undergo medical treatment away from home. The film is the second of four films that chronicle Youssef Chahine’s own life. Originally produced in 1982, Hadouta Masreya is being screened as part of Zawya’s Chahine Retrospective, running until 16 September.

Odeon Cinema, 4 Abdel-Hamid Said Street, off Talaat Harb Street, Downtown, Cairo

Exhibition Opening by Bassem Yousri at Mashrabeya Gallery, 7pm

The show, titled “RGB (1)”, is comprised of around 130 drawings on canvas representing “what could be perceived as a huge non-linear storyboard or graphic novel installed on the walls of the gallery space.” The subject matter is both fictional and inspired by real life moments, occasionally tapping into social and religious taboos.

8 Champollion Street, Downtown, Cairo

Also on this day:
- Sarah Samy Solo Exhibit at Nile Sunset Annex, Flat 17, 4th Floor, 1071 Corniche El-Nil, Cairo

Monday 15 September

Al-Youm Al-Sades (The Sixth Day) screening at Zawya, 6.30pm

Directed by Youssef Chahine, the film follows the life of Sedica as she cares for her bedridden husband and ill son while finding glimpses of hope in Okka, a young and joyful song and dance performer. The film was produced in 1986 and stars Dalida, Shwekar, Hamdy Ahmed, Sanaa Younis, Abla Kamel, Salah El-Saadani and Chahine himself. It is screened as part of Zawya’s Chahine Retrospective, running until 16 September.

Odeon Cinema, 4 Abdel-Hamid Said Street, off Talaat Harb Street, Downtown, Cairo

Cairokee Concert at El-Sawy Culturewheel, 8.30pm

Cairokee, one of Egypt’s most celebrated young music groups, is set to perform at El-Sawy Culturewheel. Cairokee rose to fame after releasing their track Sout El-Horeyya during the 18 days that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak. The band was formed in 2003 and has produced three albums since: Matloub Za'eem (Leader Needed, 2011), Wana Maa Nafsy A'ed (As I Sit by Myself, 2012) and most recently Sekka Shemal (An Indecent Path).

River Hall, El-Sawy Culturewheel, 26 July Street, Zamalek, Cairo

Exhibition by Nazir Tanbouli at Wekalet Behna, 7pm

As part of the “Full Circle” project launched by the Gudran Association for Art and Development, a painting exhibition by Nazir Tanbouli will be held at the organisation’s newest space, Wekalet Behna. The aim of the project to rebuild the relationship between Tanbouli and his hometown Alexandria. The project is organised in collaboration with Teatro Alexandria and Teatro Cairo.

1 El-Kenisa El-Marounia Street, Orabi Square, El-Mansheya, Alexandria

Last day of September Story exhibition at Art Corner

Women, chaos and the desert ... The city, the lights, even more chaos ... Three artists representing abstract expressionism look into today's experiences with a modern perspective. The artists — Maha George, Sahar El-Amir and Shaker El-Edreisy — use abstract expressionism to examine Egypt's daily life in a group exhibition entitled "September Story."

Art Corner Gallery, 12 Sayed Bakri Street, Zamalek, Cairo

Alexandria Film Festival at Bibliotheca Alexandrina, 7 pm

Bibliotheca Alexandrina will screen a series of films that will take part in the Mediterranean Short Film Competition, part of the Alexandria Film Festival. The screenings of the seven shorts, at a total duration of 124 minutes, will begin at 7pm.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Auditorium, Chatby, Alexandria

Also on this day:
- Bassem Yousri’s "RGB (1)" at Mashrabeya Gallery, 8, Champollion Street, Downtown, Cairo. Daily, except Fridays, from 11am to 8pm
- Rock the Casbah at Zawya 1.30pm, 3.30pm and 9.30pm (see Sunday 14 September for more details)

Tuesday 16 September

Eskendereya Kaman w Kaman (Alexandria Again and Again) screening at Zawya, 6.30pm

Chahine’s 1989 Alexandria Again and Again is the third installment of his autobiographical films. It is preceded by Alexandria ... Why? and An Egyptian Story. Following a violent outburst with the director Yehia Eskanadarany’s favourite actor, he is forced to scrutinise his career. The director is left in confusion as the industry of cinema changes around him and he explores the real cause of the rift, whether money or the beautiful actress Nadia. It is screened as part of Zawya’s Chahine Retrospective, which ends this day.

Odeon Cinema, 4 Abdel-Hamid Said Street, off Talaat Harb Street, Downtown, Cairo

Faraway, So close! Film Screening at El-Cabina, 8pm

El-Cabina Cine Club will screen Faraway, So close!, a 1993 German fantasy film directed by Wim Wenders. The film is set in the German capital and is centered around a group of angels that long to join the throngs of humans they gaze upon. The film will have English subtitles.

11 San Saba Street, El-Raml Station, Downtown, Alexandria  

Awtar Quartet at the Bridges Cultural Centre, 8pm

Awtar Quartet will dedicate its upcoming evening to the renowned Venezuelan guitarist and composer Luis Ochoa who passed away on 28 July 2014. The concert will take place at the Bridges Cultural Centre in Zamalek. In addition to compositions by Ochoa, the evening will include works by Vivaldi, Bach, Tedesco, Boccherini and Barrios, among others. The quartet will be joined by Cesar Mora, a young classical guitarist from Venezuela. Read more here and check the video below of Awtar Quartet performing Scarlatti’s Sonata a Quattro in F major at the All Saints' Cathedral.

Bridges Cultural Centre, inside the All Saints' Cathedral, Zamalek, Cairo (behind the Marriott Hotel)

Also on this day:
- Last day to catch Rock the Casbah at Zawya 1.30pm, 3.30pm and 9.30pm (see Sunday 14 September for more details)
- Closing ceremony of the Alexandria Film Festival at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, 7pm

Wednesday 17 September

Yalla Indonesia at Cairo Opera House at 8pm

In cooperation with the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, the Cairo Opera House will host a variety of Indonesian performances to celebrate Indonesian Cultural Week in Cairo.

Small Hall, Cairo Opera House, Zamalek, Cairo

Thursday 18 September

Last day of exhibition 'Faces' at the Music Gallery

The exhibition entitled "Faces", which consists of paintings by Natalia Baykalova, is on display in the Ziad Bakir Hall of the Music Library of Cairo Opera House. The exhibition opened 9 September.

Music Library, Cairo Opera House grounds, Zamalek, Cairo.

Also on this day:
- Indonesian Cultural Week at Cairo Opera House at 8pm (See Wednesday 17 September for more info)

Friday 19 September

'Out to Sea? Garbage Plastic Exhibition' opening at Darb 1718, 4pm

Darb 1718 Contemporary Art and Culture Centre invites you to “Out to Sea? The Plastic Garbage Project”, an exhibition opening on 19 September 2014, starting 4pm to 11pm. "Out to Sea?" is an environmental educational project that began at the Museum fur Gestaltung Zurich (Museum of Design, Zurich) in 2012, toured Europe and is now implemented for the first time in the Middle East in Egypt by Darb 1718. The exhibition will tour Cairo, Alexandria and the Red Sea. The project aims to create an educational experience to raise awareness regarding the hazards of plastic garbage ending up in the world's seas. Educational and art activities will take place to teach visitors different techniques on how to use plastic waste to make beautiful and practical items.

Qasr Al-Shamee Street, Al-Fakhareen, Old Cairo (behind the Hanging Church and Amr Ibn Al-As Mosque)

Looperia Project concert at Room, 7pm

In the newly opened art space and cafe Room, Looperia are to combine Gnawa and Sufi music to present a unique African sound. "We perform to deliver a Sufi spirit, depending on loops of rhythm and music lines. The output expresses our feelings towards God, love, peace, and surely our big mother Africa," according to the Looperia project.

10 Etehad El-Mohameyeen Street, Garden City, Cairo

Omar Khairat at Cairo Opera House, 8pm

Renowned Egyptian musician Omar Khairat will perform for two consecutive evenings — 19 and 20 September. Khairat is a well-known composer and pianist, whose original compositions — which bridge contemporary Arab music and Western tunes — have earned him a large following in Egypt and the region.

Main Hall, Cairo Opera House, Zamalek

Tribute to The Beatles at the Cairo Opera House, 8pm

Glass Onion, a cover band that draws its name from a well-known Beatles song, will perform a selection of the legendary group's oeuvre at the Open Air Theatre of the Cairo Opera House.

Open Air Theatre, Cairo Opera House, Zamalek, Cairo

Wust El-Balad at El-Geneina Theatre, 8.30pm

Wust El-Balad band is considered one of the most popular bands in the Egyptian contemporary music scene and performs regularly across many venues in Egypt. Established in 1999 under the name "The Gray Rat Band", the band name changed to Wust El-Balad on the suggestion of Sameh El-Azab, with whom they jammed at the Cairo Opera House.

El-Geneina Theatre, Al-Azhar Park, Salah Salem Road, Cairo

Out to Sea: Plastic Garbage Exhibition (Photo: Courtesy of Darb 1718)

Saturday 20 September

Masr 14 International Day of Peace Celebration at Al-Azhar Park, 4pm

One day before the International Day of Peace, Masr 14 — an event organised by Masterpeace — will bring together Egypt’s innovators and problem solvers working on six issues the organisers believe to be of vital importance: energy, health, education, agriculture, housing and culture. The day will host musical performances and other showcases for these issues.

Al-Azhar Park, Salah Salem Road, El-Darrasa, Cairo

Beethoven Symphonies with Cairo Symphony Orchestra at Cairo Opera House, 8pm

The Cairo Symphony Orchestra will perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s famed "Eroica" (Symphony No 3) and Symphony No 4. The concert is part of the Beethoven Symphonies series that spans over five Saturdays and is conducted entirely by Ahmed El-Saedi, the orchestra’s newly appointed artistic director and principal conductor. Read more about the Beethoven Symphonies series here.

Main Hall, Cairo Opera House, Zamalek, Cairo

Chereef Hefnawy at 100Copies Music space, 8pm

Spoken word artist Chereef Hefnawy will be mixing poetry, on a variety of subjects, and electronic music, presenting a mix of tradition and modernity.

22 Talaat Harb Street, Downtown, Cairo

'Aghani Bel Arabi' concert at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, 8pm

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina Choir joined by the Cairo Celebration Choir (CCC) will perform a selection of traditional Arabic songs by Sayed Darwish, Gamal Abdel Rehim and Awatef Abdel Kerim. The evening will be conducted by Nayer Nagui, founder and artistic director of CCC.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Great Hall, Chatby, Alexandria

Also on this day:
- Omar Khairat at Cairo Opera House, Main Hall, 8pm

Cairo Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Ahmed El-Saedi on 6 September 2014 (Photo: Dina Hamza)

Sunday 21 September

All Quiet on the Western Front screening at Bibliotheca Alexandrina, 6pm

The 1930 film All Quiet on the Western Front by Lewis Milestone showcases the horrors of the World War I. The film follows a young soldier’s dissillusionment at the frontlines of the war.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina Auditorium, Alexandria