Under the auspices of the Egyptian Minister of Culture Emad Abu Ghazi, the Cultural Development Fund will screen the documentary film "The Burning of the Cairo Opera House" by director Kamal Abdel Aziz, tomorrow Friday 28 October, marking its 40th year after the tragic event.

"The Burning of the Cairo Opera House" directed by Kamal Abdel Aziz documents rare historical footage of the fire back in 28 October 1971 that led to the collapse of the entire building. The documentary film also investigates the event questioning employees and artists of the Cairo Opera House, in addition to a number of eye-witnesses.

The Cairo Opera House was inaugurated on 1 November 1869 by architects Pietro Avoscany Rutsea and design of wood following the order of Khedive Ismail to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal. The Cairo Opera House was to accommodate to 850 seats, back then, and was considered the first opera house in Africa and the Middle East.

The 40-minute long documentary feature will be followed by a discussion engaging in the Minister of Culture, director of the Cultural Development Fund Mohamed Abu Saada,  film directors Kamal Abdel Aziz and Mohamed Khan, and Ahram Online editor-in-chief Hany Shukrallah.

The screening of "The Burning of the Cairo Opera House" will be on Friday 28 October at 8.00pm

The Arts Creativity Centre, The Cairo Opera House premises, El Gezira