Author: Islam Anwar

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Poster advertising Al Darb Al Ahmar Art School in Cairo (source: Al Darb Al Ahmar Art School)

Cairo's Al Darb Al Ahmar Art School

The chance of a lifetime

In early 2017, Cairo's Al Darb Al Ahmar Art School moved into new premises. Adjacent to the perimeter wall of the city's Azhar Park, the new building is also right next to the Genaina Theatre, venue for most of the school's performances. Islam Anwar has the detailsMore

The cultural scene in Egypt: Creative artists are the motor for change"Mahatat" dance project in Cairo: Stop and dance!The Palestinian Circus School: Spreading hope and fostering inclusion
Egyptian film-maker Mohamed Rashad (photo: Goethe-Institut Cairo/Hasan Amin)

Interview with Egyptian film director Mohamed Rashad

A homage to life

In his first documentary film, "Little Eagles", director Mohamed Rashad moves from Alexandria to Cairo and back. On his journey, he links up the past and the present, raising many questions about the individual and society. Interview by Islam AnwarMore

Dina Hamza′s documentary film "Gaye El Zaman": A daughter's tributeAhmad Abdalla′s film ″Decor″: Let the audience decide what′s real″Cinema Clubs″ in Egypt: Rediscovering the silver screenQantara dossier: "Arab cinema"
Hadeer Mansour and the books bike on a Cairo street (source: Facebook)

Cairo′s mobile library

Bringing books to the people

A cargo of books and a smart tricycle fitted with bookshelves: with these simple means, Hadeer Mansour und Mohammad launched their project – a small mobile library that travels through the neighbourhoods of the Egyptian capital Cairo. By Islam AnwarMore

Education in Indonesia: Boatloads of booksRemembering Naguib Mahfouz:″A wave of light on an infinite ocean of darkness″ Interview with the Egyptian author Youssef Rakha: "Taken together, these things would make up home..."
Self-portrait by the Egyptian artist Heba Khalifa (photo: arabdocphotography.org)

Egyptian photographer Heba Khalifa in interview

"A space for confronting our fears"

Heba Khalifa is an Egyptian photographer and fine artist. Her current project "Homemade" is supported by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture and the Magnum Foundation. Islam Anwar interviewed the artist in CairoMore

Photography Biennale of the Contemporary Arab World: A feast for the eyesAzza Soliman, an Egyptian feminist at risk: "What has Azza done?"Mona Eltahawy: "Why do you hate us so?": The Middle East needs a sexual revolution
Discussion following a film screening in Cairo′s Jesuit Cinema Club (source: Jesuit Cinema Club)

″Cinema Clubs″ in Egypt

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Rediscovering the silver screen

Since the revolution of 25 January 2011, Egypt has seen a resurgence of its cinema clubs: places where fans of the "seventh art" (Alain/Schelling) meet, mostly in cultural centres, to watch films together and discuss them afterwards. Islam Anwar reports from CairoMore

Egyptian Cinema: Enormous creative energyDina Hamza′s documentary film "Gaye El Zaman": A daughter's tributeAhmad Abdalla′s film ″Decor″: Let the audience decide what′s real

In brief

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Most Recent Photo Essay

Iran bearing the brunt: with a high number of deaths and cases, Iran has been a regional epicentre of the outbreak. Several top officials have been infected and there are concerns the number of cases are higher than reported. The government has cancelled Friday prayers but health workers have complained they are under-equipped. Iran has asked the International Monetary Fund for emergency funding

Coronavirus in the Middle East: Lock down or play down?

Countries such as Kuwait and Israel have instituted virtual lockdowns in the face of COVID-19, while religious gatherings have been limited at a time of year ripe with ritual. Others have been slower to act. By Tom Allinson