The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Away from the festival, a screening of 2011 Italian film Sul Mare will take place at the Italian Cultural Institute. Elsewhere, Photopia in Heliopolis hosts a live performance by local indie-pop band, Salalem. Also in Heliopolis, Roof Bar welcomes an impressive line-up of DJs for electro-house event, Privelage, while DJ Carlos is at the Fairmont Nile City’s O Bar.

Just down the Nile at the Kempinski Hotel, soul diva, Michelle Rounds, performs at Jazz Bar while DJ Feedo plays hip-hop and r&b at Amici Zamalek.

Meanwhile, more live music comes in the form of Screwdriver and Jailbirds who will both perform at Cairo Jazz Club. That’s not all, though; Massive Scar Era front-woman, Cherine Amr, performs at Sufi in Zamalek.

The Cairo International Film Festival continues on Friday, this time with entries from Lebanon, Brazil and Poland, amongst others.

Elsewhere, El Sawy Culturewheel hosts a day of live, authentic African music as part of the perennial AfriCairo Festival – an initiative that aims to improve communication between African nations through arts and culture.

DJ Feedo is back again this weekend, this time at O Bar, while DJ MMohasseb spins house at Cairo Jazz Club. There’s more live music as Wetrobots <3 Bosaina perform at 100Copies Music Space, Wust El Balad’s Hany Adel is live at El Sawy Culturewheel and Talta Talet are on stage at After Eight.

On the other end of the musical spectrum, acclaimed Egyptian musician, Sobhy Bedeir, is welcomed at 6th of October City’s MUST Opera House. Alternatively, gardeners can pick up supplies and accessories as Khadra takes over at Arkan Mall, while Al Saraya Boat in Zamalek host a huge night of entertainment and shopping with Arabian Nights Bazaar.

Speaking of Bazaars, Saturdays sees Conrad Hotel host a Christmas Charity Bazaar, while ‘Tis the Season Bazaar at Caravanserai offers shoppers a range of original gift ideas.

The Cairo International Film Festival continues at Cairo Opera House while the AfriCairo Festival moves to Cairo Jazz Club, with Sunshine Band from Nigeria and Asia Band from Sudan performing.  Meanwhile, Bozarts invites all to get in the festive spirit early with a Christmas Karaoke night.

Art in Cairo is plentiful as usual; while this will be the last weekend for Maryam Jafri’s ‘Global Slum’, on show at Beirut till Sunday. Elsewhere, Fathi Afifi’s ‘Proletariat’ explores grassroots life in Egypt at Gallery Misr and Townhouse Gallery continues to screen four experimental videos as part ‘Liminal State’, while Arthropologie continues to exhibit Zeinab Mahmoud’s ‘El Nouba’ – a charming look at rural life in Egypt.

This is just a snapshot of the events this weekend – check out the Cairo 360 events calendar for more. Stay safe, Cairo.