As part of a series of events celebrating the official opening of the American University in Cairo's new campus in New Cairo, the Photographic Gallery (formerly the Sony Gallery) is hosting its inaugural exhibition next Sunday. The show, titled "Reflections: Another Look", is a group exhibition by 17 photographers from the gallery's archival collection. It is an overview of past Sony Gallery shows of the best photographs shown from 1993 to 2009. Participating photographers are: Alaaedddin Abdel-Nabi, Robert Azzi, Abdel-Fattah Eid, John Feeney, Reem Al-Faisal, gallery director Shems Friedlander, Ara Gèler, Thomas Hartwell, Lehnert & Landrock, Enric Marti, Dale J Osborn, Ann Parker, Lucie Pavlovich, John C Tordai, Alfred Stieglitz, Kamil Vod"ra and an unknown photographer. Ghardaia children playing in the backstreets of Beni Isguen town, Algeria by Hartwell To celebrate the 59th anniversary of India's Republic Day, the Embassy of India in Cairo celebrated with a flag hoisting ceremony, while Indian Chargè d'Affaires Rahul Kulshreshth delivered the president of India's speech for this occasion. The celebration was attended by a large number of Indian community members, along with embassy staff and their families. To mark the occasion, the embassy organised a reception at the Police Club in Zamalek attended by a galaxy of senior Egyptian officials, foreign diplomats, journalists and media figures including Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Hisham Al-Nazer, Egyptian former foreign minister Ahmed Maher, head of the Egyptian Writers Union and Chief-Editor of Al-Ahram Hebdo weekly newspaper Mohamed Salmawy and former head of the Egyptian Federation for Industries Abdel-Moneim Souedi. The cast of the successful play Qahwa Sada (Unsweetened Coffee) and its talented director Khaled Galal received a shield of recognition after their performance at the Creativity Centre at the Cairo Opera House. The cast was honoured by Chargé d'Affaires of the Lebanese Embassy in Cairo Ali Al-Halabi and head of the Egyptian- Lebanese Friendship Association Negad Shaarawi. Attending the highly sought-after performance were Lebanese consul Milad Raad, Vice-President of the Egyptian-Lebanese Friendship Association Ghazi Nasser, head of the Royal Cairo Rotary Club Mayan Raslan as well as staff members of the Lebanese Embassy. At the 41st Cairo International Book Fair's Pavilion II, Haven Publishing House, directed by Afaf Abdel-Moati, held a signing ceremony for the first novel by journalist Mohamed Refaat. Titled Raqsat Al-Leblab (The Go-Getter's Dance), the novel tells the story of a corrupt female journalist, a hypocrite who violates the ethics of journalism to attain power. Refaat is assistant chief editor of October magazine and managing editor of Finance and Real Estate newspaper. An exciting private screening for the new film Mikano was held at Nile City cinema. The film stars Syrian actor Taim Hassan for the first time in Egyptian cinema, gorgeous actress Nour and talented actor Khaled El-Sawy, was scripted by Wael Hamdi, directed by Mahmoud Kamel and produced by actress-cum-cinema producer Esaad Younis. Nile City cinema also hosted another private screening, this time for Bedoun Reqaba (Uncensored). The film stars actress Ola Ghanem, Lebanese singers-cum-actresses Dolly Shahine and Maria, with the latter acting for the first time in Egyptian cinema, talented actor Bassem Samra and singers-cum-actors Ahmed Fahmi and Edward. It was scripted by Amin Gamal and directed by Hani Guirguis Fawzi. The Cleopatra Rotary Club (CRC), presided over by Mohamed Oqda, in cooperation with the Nile Rotary Club (NRC), presided over by Khaled El-Barbari, held a seminar under the title: "The Role of Art in Serving Society". Keynote speakers were goodwill ambassadors and stars Yossra and Mahmoud Qabil, who discussed their efforts in this respect. The seminar was moderated by CRC founder Nagwa El-Farr. Egypt Lovers and Peace Society (ELPS), headed by Ibrahim Fawzi, held a conference under the title: "Egyptian Commitment and Sacrifices for the Palestinians". The conference was held in solidarity with Gaza and discussed ways to reconstruct the city. At the Marriott Hotel, the event was attended by a plethora of ministers, ambassadors, high- profile figures and celebrities including Cairo Governor Abdel-Azim Wazir, Secretary-General of ELPS Hani Aziz, Minister of Waqf (Religious Endowments) Hamdi Zaqzouq as well as actresses Ragaa El-Geddawi, Fardous Abdel-Hamid, veiled actress Hanan Tork, belly dancer-cum-actress Nagwa Fouad and actors Ezzat Abu Ouf and Ezzat El-Alaili. More news on the 41st Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF): Egypt received an official invitation to participate at the New York Art Book Fair (NYABF). President of the General Egyptian Book Organisation (GEBO) and the CIBF Nasser El-Ansari welcomed the president of the NYABF during his visit to the CIBF foreign publishing pavilions as well as the American pavilion where they discussed the progress the CIBF has achieved over the past years. The president of the NYABF expressed his admiration for the public's enthusiasm in participating in the CIBF. Labelling the AION Quintet 's style as world music, jazz, improvisational, Oriental or Western may seem redundant. Indeed, all of these labels apply to AION in its unique ability to make good music in many styles. Last Friday at Al-Sawy Cultural Wheel, the group, headed by the classically and jazz-trained composer and performer Christian Berger, brings the listener along on a musical adventure. With an array of musical styles, instrumental colours, and textures at their disposal, the results are spectacular. Following Berger 's lead on guitar and oud, the saxophone adds another melodic element in soaring above, while the double bass alternates as a solo voice and the rhythmic and harmonic base. Through the freedom of improvisation, carefully arranged themes develop and transform, bringing a special quality of authenticity and beauty to every live concert performed by the AION Quintet featuring Berti Lampert (tenor and soprano saxophone), Marc Jenny (double bass), Markus Brechbèhl (udu, framedrum, and djembe) and Dominic Doppler (drums).
