Islamic Cairo at night On the first of Ramadan, Fatimid Cairo came to life. Though it receives large numbers of visitors all year round, Khan Al-Khalili becomes during the holy fasting month a source of inspiration. Taher El-Barbary strolled the streets and alleyways of Islamic Cairo to capture the mood. The General Organisation of Culture Palaces (GOCP), presided by Ahmed Megahed, continues to offer a rich and varied cultural programme through the holy month of Ramadan at the Cairo Citadel. The programme starts 6 Ramadan, and ends on the 20th. It targets spectators of all ages, and will include seminars, concerts, art exhibitions, poetry evenings and film screenings. Ramadan nights will include The Poets' Oasis, with the participation of a number of poets such as Ahmed Abdel-Moeti Hegazi, Samir Abdel-Baqi, Helmi Salem, Ahmed Fouad Negm and, among others, Mohamed Abu Sena. The programme also includes a cultural forum, set to be held at the Naguib Mahfouz Hall in the Writers Union, featuring an open discussion with Culture Minister Farouk Hosni. In addition, a number of seminars on various topics will run, including one on the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, to be presented by Gaber Asfour and Mohamed Abdel-Motelib. Another seminar, titled "Plastic Arts and Improving the Spontaneous Artists", is set to be delivered by Al-Ahram art critic Nagwa El-Ashri and artist Mohamed Hamza. Numerous encounters with several of Egypt's renowned writers will be also included in the programme, including head of the Egyptian Writers Union and Al-Ahram Hebdo Chief Editor Mohamed Salmawi, best-selling novelist Alaa El-Aswani, veteran poet Sayed Hegab and novelist Ibrahim Abdel-Meguid. An open discussion with Egypt's Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa will also be held. On a lighter note, Ramadan soap opera stars will also take part in the GOCP's cultural programme. Meshwar, an Egyptian non-governmental organisation first established in 2003, held its fifth annual festival at the National Youth Council. Attendees to the festival, named "Our Responsibility as Egyptians", watched as awards were distributed among more than 150 students who have excelled in their studies and 40 widowed mothers, each of whom is supported by one of the NGO's many programmes. Among the attendees was Denis Konobil representing the Swiss ambassador, pantomime artist Ahmed Nabil, actor Amr El-Mahdi, retired football star Magdi Abdel-Ghani, consultant of the minister of social solidarity Lila Abdel-Razak, Deputy of the Ministry of Education Wagdi Mohamed, and Director-General of the National Sports Council Abdel-Rahman Youssef. Among the participants, on the other hand, were Sesame Street figures Khokha and Namnam, and a Nubian folklore troupe. photos: Abdel-Hamid Eid Culture Minister Farouk Hosni inaugurated the 24th Alexandria International Film Festival at the Sayed Darwish Theatre in Alexandria. It was organised under the auspices of cinema critic Eris Nazmi and head of the Egyptian Association of Cinema Critics and Writers Mamdouh El-Leithi. This year's round honoured late veteran filmmaker Youssef Chahine. His award was handed to producer Gabi Khouri. Also honoured were a number of cinema figures who played a crucial role in developing Egyptian cinema, such as actresses Magda and Sherihan and director Ali Abdel-Khaliq, as well as cinematographer Mohsen Nasr, Moroccan Minister of Culture Thuraya Gubran and Greek actress Marianso Banki. A press conference was held on the occasion of the launch of the shooting of the new film Haflet Moat (Party for the Dead). The film stars actor Mohamed Riyad, who will appear with his totally new look, Ahmed El-Tohami, gifted actress Haidy Karam, Jordanian actor Eyad, and for the first time in Egyptian cinema Lebanese singer Ewan. The film is co-written by Haytham Wahid and Hossam Halim, and directed by Ahmed Youssri. photo: Ayman Barayez On the occasion of the closure of summer concerts, pop singers Mohamed Nour, Hamada Hilal and Carol Samaha featured in live performances in Marina. The concerts were produced by Good News Production Company. At Sheraton Montazah Hotel, a three-hour seminar was held under the title Al-Ostaz (The Master). At this seminar, actors and other cinematic stars including Yossra, Khaled Youssef, Khaled El-Nabawi, Lebleba, Hani Salama, critic Rafiq Al-Saban and cinematographer Said Marzouq paid a tribute to the late filmmaker Youssef Chahine by discussing his filmography. A lavish press conference was held on the occasion of the release of Moroccan singer Samira Said 's new album, Ayam Hayati (Days of My Life) produced by Alam Al-Fann and Mazzika production companies. Among the media figures who participated in the celebration were Chairman of the Musicians Syndicate Mounir El-Wesemi, lyricist Ayman Bahgat Qammar,composer Salah El-Sharnoubi, Lebanese singer Samo Zein and producer Mohsen Gaber.
