Tips from the culture desk: Film weeks and a D-CAF weekend in Cairo

This week sees two film weeks at Cairo’s French Institute and Zawya, alongside an array of high-quality film programming by the latter (around the city) and Cimatheque (in downtown). And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can also catch six “very short” experimental films at the Cairo Creativity Center. There is still plenty of time to see exhibitions such as PhotoCairo6 at CIC and Saad Zaghloul Culture Center, Temporal Semiotics by Malak Yacout at Townhouse and a group exhibition at the newly opened Arcade Gallery in Maadi.

French Film Week – starts Monday

Cairo’s French Institute hosts five days of non-stop French film screenings, each day dedicated to a theme: love, childhood, politics, acting and a thriller. The program looks good, spanning several decades and including works by Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut and Jean Renoir.

March 13-17 at the French Institute, Madraset al-Hoqouq al-Ferensia Street, Mounira, Cairo. Full program here.

Ibero-American Film Week – starts Wednesday

As the Cairo International Women’s Film Festival comes to an end with its Latin American focus, Zawya takes the baton with its second Ibero-American Film Week, a solid selection of recently released award-winning films from Latin America, Spain and Portugal. It kicks off with acclaimed Spanish director Pedro Almodovar’s Julieta. Zawya is also hosting its third birthday party to coincide with the program’s opening, a Latin-themed music night with DJs Moose and Hicham Chabana at nearby club venue Zigzag.

March 15-21 at Zawya, behind Odeon Cinema, off Talaat Harb Street, downtown Cairo. Full program here.

Privilege and Wattstax – Tuesday

This month at Cimatheque is all about music, and it’s proving great so far. On Tuesday, the alternative cinema screens Peter Watkins' often overlooked film Privilege (1967) on fictional British pop star Steven Shorter's manipulation by church and state. Mel Stuart's documentary Wattstax (1973) tells the story of a massive festival organised by Stax Records as a black answer to Woodstock.

Wattstax screening: Tuesday, March 14, 4:15pm.

Privilege screening: Tuesday, March 14, 7:15pm. Rescreening: Thursday, March 16, 4:15pm.

Cimatheque, 19A Adly Street, downtown Cairo. More information here and here.

I Am the People – Tuesday

Zamalek Cinema rescreens Anna Roussillon's fascinating documentary I Am the People, which documents the 2011 revolution from villages in Egypt's countryside, where Egyptians watch the events unfolding in Tahrir Square, removed and distant, from their television screens.

https://www.facebook.com/zawyacinema/videos/1302004466532578/

6:45 pm, March 14, 13 Shagaret al-Dor Street, Zamalek, Cairo. More information here.

Beats n’ Eats with Purplpitch – Wednesday

After the success of their ongoing Dinner at the Movies event series, creative eatery Eish & Malh are experimenting with DJ-ed dinners. Their first collaboration is with DJ Purplpitch, who plans to pair soulful rhythms with Eish & Malh's delectable comfort food.

7 pm, March 15, 20 Adly Street, downtown Cairo. More information here.

D-CAF launches with The Rite of Spring – Friday

This week ends with the launch of the sixth Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF), a three-week arts initiative by Orient Productions and Ismaelia for Real Estate Development. It includes performances, films, visual art and site-specific events with Egyptian and international artists. Spain’s Roger Bernat returns (he was also here last year) to open the festival with his 2010 participatory performance The Rite of Spring, based on choreography by late German artist Pina Bausch and set to Igor Stravinsky’s original composition.

8 pm, March 17-18. AUC Falaki Theater, 24 Falaki Street, downtown Cairo. Tickets are LE30 and can be booked here. Full-D-CAF program here.