Palestinian film Happy Holidays wins top honours at the Marrakech Film Festival

Ahram Online , Sunday 8 Dec 2024

The Palestinian film Happy Holidays won the Marrakech Film Festival’s top award, Étoile d’Or (Golden Star). Actresses Manar Shehab and Wafaa Aoun shared Best Actress Awards.

Happy Holidays


According to AP: "Screenwriter Mona Copti in an acceptance speech said the film team's joy at winning was tempered by war in the Middle East, and she denounced what she called the dehumanization of Palestinians."

Happy Holidays is a 2024 Palestinian family drama film written and directed by Oscar-nominated Jaffa-born Palestinian filmmaker Scandar Copti.

Happy Holidays stars Manar Shehab, Wafaa Aoun, Toufic Danial, and Meirav Memoresky.

The film follows the story of a Palestinian family living in Israel, focusing on the difficulties they face in a male-dominated society as they navigate their personal struggles and family dynamics. As such, the film also explores the social issues the Arab-Palestinian society faces in Israel.

The film is divided into four chapters, each telling the story from a different character's perspective. It weaves together multiple storylines to create a drama centred on family affairs.

Before its win at Marrakech, Happy Holidays won the Best Screenplay Award at the 81st Venice Film Festival and Best in Show from the Thessaloniki Film Festival.

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