By Madame Sosostris Ministry of sound Organised by 100 Copies Music, the British Council, the Rawabet Theatre and other parties, the Rawabet Theatre in downtown Cairo will hold the 100 Live Electronic Music Festival 2012 over two days: today and tomorrow, 14 and 15 June. 100 Copies is a music label based in Cairo that releases music from Egypt focussing on experimental work that aims to create a platform for the independent music scene in Cairo. The festival is a continuation of the career of musician Mahmoud Refaat, who founded the festival in 2007. Refaat was in Cairo in 1974 and began his career playing local funk, acid jazz and in experimental rock bands during the 1990s. After three years in Egypt, the Indian Ambassador R Swaminathan and his wife Suchitra Durai gave a reception at their residence to bid their Egyptian friends adieu to ending Swaminathan's terms in Egypt. Present were Minister of Tourism Mounir Fakhri Abdel-Nour, Minister of Scientific Research Nadia Zakhari, former prime minister Yehia El-Gamal, Deputy Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs Ambassador Mohamed Hegazi, First Under-secretary for Foreign Cultural Relations at the Ministry of Culture Hossam Nassar, Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Ahmed Al-Qattan, former MP and political analyst Mustafa El-Feki as well as members of the Indian Embassy, diplomats and businessmen. The Egyptian-Lebanese Friendship Association (ELFA), headed by Maged El-Menshawi, organised an honorary ceremony at Al-Gezirah Sofitel Hotel for the Chargé d'Affaires of the Lebanese Embassy Ali Al-Halabi on the occasion of his terms in Cairo ending. Present were the Lebanese Ambassador to Egypt Khaled Ziyada -- who honoured Al-Halabi handing him the ELFA honorary shield -- as well as the Vice President of ELFA Ghazi Nasser and various figures of the Lebanese Embassy such as Fouad Al-Bedewi, Hassan Shash, Ahmed Baidoun, Fouad Hadraj and Mohamed Al-Sharqawi. The cast of the recently released film Helm Aziz (Aziz's Dream) celebrated the premiere of the film at Cinema Royal. Helm Aziz, scripted by Nader Salaheddin and directed by Amr Arafa, features a unique ensemble including Ahmed Ezz, Sherif Mounir, Maye Kassab, Mohamed Imam, Meritte, Mahmoud Abdel-Ghaffar, Amr Mahdi and Rania Mansour. The film is produced by Al-Arabia production company, headed by actress-cum-producer Isaad Younis who was present during the premiere with the crew of the film and other celebrities and media figures such as actors Ashraf Abdel-Baqi, Ahmed El-Saadani, Ahmed El-Tohami, Sherine, Nicole Saba, singer Hisham Abbas, MP Mohamed Abu Hamid and the head of the Catholic Cinema Centre for Egyptian Cinema Father Boutros Daniel. The Cairo Opera House Small Hall held the late poet Ahmed Taymour's annual poetic evening of the talented. The celebration was crowned by the presence of actors Ahmed Maher, Manal Salama, Khalil Mursi, Magd Al-Qassem, Ahmed Ibrahim, Ahmed El-Kahlawi and Ghada Ibrahim, who recited Taymour's poems. Former minister of higher education and scientific research Moufid Shehab, former prime minister Yehia El-Gamal, media figures Hamdi El-Konayessi, Hossam Abdel-Hadi and Mohamed Nabil were all present. More news from the Cairo Opera House Small Hall, where the award ceremony for the first ever 25 January Revolution patriotic song contest was held; organised by the General Department of Theatre headed by singer Ahmed Ibrahim under the auspices of Culture Minister Saber Arab the contest was concluded in style in the presence of the head of the General Organisation of Culture Palaces (GOCP) Saad Abdel-Rahman. Fifteen songs reached the finals and were selected by the jury committee, which included various musical icons such as composer Helmi Bakr, singer Mohamed El-Helw, conductor Selim Sahab, vernacular poet Gamal Bekheit and critic Zein Nassar. The first three awards went to singer Haidi Moussa, composer Ashraf Mohamed Zaki and poet El-Sayed Mahmoud. Exceptionally gifted actress Donia Samir Ghanem and media figure Rami Radwan celebrated their engagement in a prestigious celebration with family and friends at one of Cairo's grand hotels. The parents of the bride, comedian Samir Ghanem and actress Dalal Abdel-Aziz, welcomed -- among many guests -- actresses Mervat Amin, Ragaa El-Geddawi, singer-cum-actor Hani Adel, actor Hassan El-Raddad, Tunisian actress Dorra, singer Ghada Ragab and fashion designer Hani El-Beheiri. The Picasso Gallery in Zamalek saw the inaugural ceremony of The Holy Family in Egypt: a group show by the likes of Abdu Ramzi, Abdel-Aal Hassan, Adel Thabet, Gamil Shafik, George Bahgory, Effat Hosni, Wagdy Habashy, Helmi El-Touni, Omar El-Fayoumi, Mustafa El-Razaz and Farahat Zaki. The exhibition, coinciding with the date of Jesus and the Virgin Mary's visit to Egypt, showcases 60 variously sized paintings created by 25 artists. Present were writer Naem El-Baz, gallerist Ibrahim Picasso, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Culture Said Tawfiq, Swedish artist Magy and Nahed Shakir, the niece of the singer Shadia.
