In the heart of Egypt's capital lies the Cairo Opera House. Built in the style of La Scala Theater in Milan, this building was inaugurated on November 29, 1869 with Verdi's Rigoletto in the presence of the most important monarchs and world dignitaries.

The facades of the theater are a contrast between antique and modern architecture which provide breathtaking patterns across the interior of the building such as the pattern shown here. This image was taken during the 2020 Cairo International Film Festival, the region’s oldest and largest annual film festival and also the only internationally accredited one in the Middle East and Africa. The CIFF has a longstanding legacy of bridging the Arab cinematic world with the global industry and hosting the region’s most anticipated previews.