New film across cinemas starting 5 November
- Predator: Badlands, starring Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi
- Playdate, starring Kevin James, Isla Fisher, Alan Ritchson
- Stitch Head: Asa Butterfield, Joel Fry, Alison Steadman, Rob Brydon
Last days of the 17th Cairo Jazz Festival
The 17th edition of the Cairo Jazz Festival (CJF) kicked off on 30 October and continues until 7 November, featuring Egyptian and international jazz musicians.
This year’s festival will be dedicated to the late Lebanese composer and cultural icon Ziad Rahbani. The programme will include a special concert, a film screening, and a seminar highlighting Rahbani's enduring influence on Arab music and theatre.
Events will take place across multiple venues, from the American University in Cairo’s Tahrir Campus to the halls of El Sawy Culturewheel and Rawabet Arts Space. The festival will also extend to Sheikh Zayed City, with performances at Teatro Arkan, while Alexandria will host events at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Jesuit Cultural Centre.
Read more about events linked to Ziad Rahbani here, and about Egyptian participation in the festival here.
Check the CJF’s full programme on the festival’s Facebook Page.
Um Kalthoum musical
Thursday 6 and Friday 7 November, 9pm
Theatre of Movenpick, 6th of October City
The musical is produced by El Adl Group Studios in the company’s debut large-scale stage production about the Star of the East.
The show traces key moments in Um Kalthoum’s life, from her early days in a small village in Egypt’s Daqahliya governorate to her rise in Cairo and transformation into one of the most celebrated voices in Egypt, the Arab world, and beyond.
The plot and lyrics are written by Medhat El Adl, with direction by Ahmed Fouad.
In addition to Umm Kulthum’s iconic songs, the performance features original music by Khaled El Kammar and Ehab Abdel Wahed.
Egyptian Harp Ensemble - music
Friday 7 December, 8pm
Cairo Opera House, main hall, Zamalek, Cairo
The Egyptian Harp Ensemble is a group of Egyptian female harp players, including professionals and students.
This group started its activities several years ago, presenting a slew of concerts at the Cairo Opera House and other theatres. Its programme features different genres of music, including classical and heritage music, Egyptian, Spanish, Mexican, contemporary, jazz, etc.
Its goal is to shed light on this authentic Egyptian Pharaonic instrument and to highlight the Egyptian school of playing, which has its roots for more than 50 years.
Saad El-Oud - music
Friday 7 November, 8pm
Theatro Arkan, Sheikh Zayed city, Cairo
Oud player Saad El-Oud performs songs that reflect Egypt’s authentic musical heritage while engaging closely with the audience.
A frequent performer across the Gulf region, El-Oud is an active musician who moves fluidly between major venues and intimate spaces that spotlight emerging independent bands.
Paranoid Eyes - music
Friday 7 November, 8pm
Room Art Space & Café, 10 Etehad Al Mohamin St., Garden City, Cairo
Paranoid Eyes is an Egyptian progressive rock band deeply passionate about performing the music of Pink Floyd, as well as the solo works of the legendary David Gilmour and Roger Waters.
The band’s lineup includes Wissam Sultan (lead guitar and vocals), Illia Yurchenko (drums), Yehya Radwan (bass guitar), and Abdalla Nasser (keyboards and background sound effects). The concert will also feature guest lead guitarist Omar Dafrawi.
Ahmed Rabie - music
Friday 7 November, 8pm
Room Art Space & Café, The Spot Mall, New Cairo
Renowned drummer and percussionist Ahmed Rabie will present jazz fusion.
Rabie has spent over two decades founding bands and collaborating with numerous musicians often focusing on jazz. Most notably, he serves as the main drummer in the band of superstar Amr Diab, thereby bridging mainstream pop and more experimental rhythmic approaches.
Rabie has also staged solo shows, for instance at the Cairo Opera House’s Open Air Theatre, where he played jazz-fusion standards on drums only, showcasing his technical proficiency and genre-blending vision.
On the stage of Room Art Space, he will be joined by Aly Anany on lead guitar, Mikey on keyboard, and Ibram Samir on bass guitar.
Short link: