Jordan to open its first drive-in theatre

The drive-in theatre is part of Amman International Film Festival. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 29 July 2020
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Jordan to open its first drive-in theatre

DUBAI: Jordan’s Amman International Film Festival (AIFF) has announced this week that the event will open its first drive-in cinema in the country.     

The festival also revealed new dates for its inaugural edition that has been postponed due to the global restrictions imposed amid the coronavirus pandemic. It is expected to run from Aug. 23-31. 

Its drive-in cinemas will be located at Amman’s New Abdali district, while other screenings will be held at the open-air theatre of Jordan’s Royal Film Commission in Jabal Amman. 

AIFF, which focuses on first-time filmmakers in both the Arab world and abroad, will offer audiences feature-length narratives and documentaries, as well as short films.

Each film will only screen once at each venue.

Princess Rym Ali, president of the AIFF, said in a statement: “Thanks to the festival’s partners, we are able to hold the first edition this year, in spite of the challenges posed by the global health situation.”

We also see this event as a message of solidarity both for the public, in need of cultural escapism, and the local film community in difficulty,” Ali added. 

“Unfortunately, we won’t be able, this year, to host guests from abroad due to travel restrictions, but we will certainly make up for it in the coming editions. The international jury members, and international experts will join Jordanian professionals virtually to enrich discussions and exchanges,” she said.


Lolo Zouai takes to Berlin’s Colors platform

Updated 03 March 2026
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Lolo Zouai takes to Berlin’s Colors platform

DUBAI: French Algerian singer Lolo Zouai took to the Berlin-based music platform Colors this week, delivering a live performance of her latest single “Desert Rose PT.II.”

The appearance comes as the track climbed to No. 1 on Algeria’s R&B chart within 24 hours of its release. A sequel to “Desert Rose” from her 2019 debut album “High Highs to Low Lows,” the new single features lyrics in Arabic, French and English, reflecting the cross-cultural influences that shape her sound.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Lolo Zouaï (@lolozouai)

Zouai marked the achievement on Instagram, sharing a series of posts including a photo of herself wearing an Algeria football jersey, alongside the single’s cover art and a screenshot showing its chart ranking. 

“Grateful for the love on this one. Can’t wait for you to hear the studio version and the rest of ‘Reverie’,” she wrote.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by COLORS (@colorsxstudios)

She also reposted a collage of fan reactions, including a TikTok video that read: “It’s 2026 and we still haven’t had another song like ‘Desert Rose’ out.” Others said: “Can’t wait for Desert Rose pt. 2” and “wdym desert rose pt. 2?!?!?!”

The single forms part of her upcoming third studio album, “Reveries,” due for release on April 24. She announced the date last month alongside the music video for “Holding On,” another track from the project.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by COLORS (@colorsxstudios)

Blending R&B with dance-pop elements, “Holding On” delves into themes of grief and memory. The video is dedicated to Zouai’s close friend, Hanna Rosa Hotchkiss, who died in 2021.

In a statement on Instagram, Zouai described the album as the product of a transformative period in her life: “This record was made through three years of grief, growth, and reflection. I had to lose myself to find myself again. I couldn’t have done it without my angel, Hanna. Thank you to my collaborators, my friends, and my Lo-riders who held me down through it all. I hope it heals you the way it healed me.”

Known for her blend of R&B, club-pop and hip-hop, Zouai has gained an international fan base for her dynamic stage presence and genre-blending music.

Zouai’s last release was in November, when she dropped a new single titled “3AM in San Francisco.”