The Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) is currently putting the finishing touches on its 12th edition, which is set to take place from October 17th to November 10th in various theaters and artistic spaces throughout Cairo.
This year’s festival will showcase a diverse range of art from around the globe in 12 unique venues, including traditional theaters and exhibition halls as well as more unconventional spaces like multipurpose venues and open areas in the heart of Downtown Cairo.
These spaces will highlight the neighborhood’s rich social and architectural heritage. This edition of D-CAF continues its longstanding partnership with Al Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment, which has been a supporter of the festival since its inception in 2012.
The Performing Arts Program opens with “Taste Me,” an innovative Egyptian-French co-production combining food and theater.
Rawabet Art Space will host seven performances from various countries, including Egypt, France, Hungary, Italy, and the Czech Republic. Highlights include “Insectum K.” and “I Fell in Love.” Rawabet Art Space, a leading independent theater in Egypt, reopened in 2021 after renovations and plays a crucial role in supporting the country’s arts scene.
Al Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment, D-CAF’s partner in restoring Cairo’s heritage buildings, is providing new venues for the festival. Kodak Passageway and Kodak Corner Shop will host performances like “Table Top Shakespeare” and “Nazeh’s Lexicon,” showcasing the blend of heritage and contemporary art.
The Warehouse will be hosting the UK production “Of All the People in All the World” by Stan’s Cafe. Meanwhile, Victoria Rooftop will showcase the Egyptian visual and new media arts performance “Where Do Dreams Go?” as part of the Visual Arts and New Media Program.
In addition to these performances, Studio Emad Eddin and the Cairo Contemporary Dance Center will be offering a variety of workshops. French artist Philip Bolay will be leading a workshop titled “A Territory of Worry and Loneliness,” while Lotte Sigh from Denmark will be teaching a contemporary dance workshop called “Partnering and Repertoire.”
The historic Studio Nasbian Theater at El Nahda Jesuit, which has recently been restored and reopened, will present a single performance: “Dressing Room,” a joint Palestinian-French production.
As part of its ongoing partnership with the American University in Cairo (AUC), D-CAF will be presenting three international productions at the AUC Falaki Theater and Gallery. These productions come from France, Jordan, Germany, and Lebanon, and include “Transit Tripoli” by director Caroline Hatem. Additionally, the Institut Français will be showcasing “On Cherche l’Amour,” a collaborative Egyptian-Syrian production. Furthermore, Bayt Al-Sinnari, under the umbrella of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, will be hosting a special event featuring emerging artists’ projects as part of the “Cairo Calling” initiative.
As a new addition to this year’s D-CAF festival, the Greater Cairo Library, part of the Ministry of Culture’s Cultural Production Sector, will be hosting three dance performances in one evening. These performances will feature artists from Egypt, Denmark, and Sudan, showcasing a diverse range of dance styles.
This year, D-CAF is expanding its performance venues to include several restaurants and cafes in Cairo. Among these unique spaces, “No Such Thing” by the UK’s troupe Quarantine will be showcased from October 17th to November 10th. This collaboration between D-CAF and local businesses offers festival-goers a more immersive and engaging experience.
