Alia Shawkat promotes projects at Sundance Film Festival

Alia Shawkat and Jon Hamm discuss "The Big Fix" onstage at Variety x Audible Cocktails and Conversations at Sundance on January 26, 2025 in Park City, Utah. (Getty Images)
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Updated 27 January 2025
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Alia Shawkat promotes projects at Sundance Film Festival

DUBAI: US Iraqi actress Alia Shawkat is at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in Utah, the US, to promote her latest projects.

Shawkat attended the premiere of “Atropia” on Saturday, before hitting the stage with actor Jon Hamm to discuss their Audible original series “The Big Fix: A Jack Bergin Mystery” on Sunday.

“Atropia” is a 2025 American war satire film written and directed by Hailey Gates. The film follows an aspiring actress, played by Shawkat, who works on a US military base that simulates an Iraqi war zone.




Alia Shawkat at the Deadline 2025 Sundance Film Festival Portrait Studio held at the Deadline Studio on January 25, 2025 in Park City, Utah. (Getty Images)

It is a real concept that the US military employs, with the director telling IndieWire that she “tried to make a documentary about it first.”

“So I did a lot of research and visited a bunch of the bases. Sort of working my way up the (Department of Defence), and they weren’t interested in my documentary. So then I thought it was a subject ripe for satire. I think America’s misunderstanding of the people they’re invading is inherently comedic,” Gates added.

Shawkat also stars in audio thriller “The Big Fix: A Jack Bergin Mystery,” in which Hamm plays Jack Bergin, an FBI agent turned private investigator.

The eight-part series, created by John Mankiewicz and directed by Aaron Lipstadt, is a sequel to Audible’s cinematic audio drama “The Big Lie.” The new season debuts on Audible on April 24 and tells “a riveting tale of corruption and displacement in 1950s Los Angeles,” according to Audible.

Hamm is joined by returning cast members Ana de la Reguera and John Slattery, alongside newcomers Shawkat, Omar Epps, Erin Moriarty, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Sosie Bacon, David Giuntoli and Taylor Zakhar Perez.

The series is set in 1957, when Bergin finds himself entangled in a web of power, corruption and murder that reaches local government.

In a released statement, Shawkat commented: “I’m proud to be a part of such an outstanding project, and I’m eager for listeners to immerse themselves in this captivating story we’ve crafted together. I really enjoyed playing in this era with a fast-paced, well-written mystery.”


Saudi label KML unveils new collection in Paris

Updated 21 January 2026
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Saudi label KML unveils new collection in Paris

DUBAI: Siblings Razan and Ahmed Hassan presented their Fall/Winter 2026–2027 collection at Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday, continuing the rapid rise of their KML label.

The duo has gained international recognition since launching the brand in 2022, most recently being named semifinalists for the LVMH Prize — a prestigious annual award for emerging designers.

Creative director Ahmed’s minimalist designs and sharp tailoring mean KML — owned by his sister, Razan — has built its identity around reimagining traditional Saudi garments through a contemporary lens. Jackets are paired with shawl-like elements, large leather belts recall those historically worn by Bedouin men, and skirts nod to silhouettes once worn by men in the Eastern Province, Jazan and the Hijaz.

The collection leans on wrap constructions, asymmetry and elongated proportions. (Getty Images)

The approach is reflected in the new collection, which features a restrained palette of black, white and muted earth tones, leaning on wrap constructions, asymmetry and elongated proportions.

Flowing skirts, structured wrap tops and robe-like coats dominate the lineup, with some looks referencing classical draping while others lean toward utilitarian dressing, defined by sharp shoulders, cinched waists and clean, architectural lines.

In a previous interview with Arab News, Ahmed said their grandmother was a huge influence on their lives as he and his sister grew up in Riyadh. He fondly recalled both her progressive nature and inimitable style. As a young boy, Ahmed would often accompany her to fabric shops so she could get her designs stitched by a local tailor. The experience left an impression, though fashion was not an obvious initial career path.

Ahmed studied architecture and became an intern at Zaha Hadid Architects, where he developed an appreciation for structure and form. Razan, meanwhile, pursued law at Prince Sultan University and she went on to practice full-time.

“One summer, we both realized we weren’t doing what we truly wanted to do, so I decided to go to the UK to study creative writing, and Ahmed went to Central Saint Martins (in London) for a few courses,” Razan explained.

That was the catalyst for KML. In August 2023, they launched their debut capsule collection and towards the end of that year they applied to the Saudi 100 Brands program. The Fashion Commission recognized their potential, helping KML launch collections at fashion weeks in Paris, Riyadh and Milan.