MARRAKECH, Morocco — The Marrakech International Film Festival celebrated its top honor on Friday, awarding the prestigious Etoile D’Or to “Happy Holidays,” a poignant Palestinian drama set in Israel. The screenplay of this compelling film received recognition at the Venice Film Festival in September.
Directed by Scandar Copti, “Happy Holidays” delves into the lives of Israeli and Palestinian individuals grappling with familial and societal challenges in contemporary Haifa. The film features a blend of professional and non-professional actors, marking a significant moment as it becomes the first Palestinian film to take home Marrakech’s esteemed prize.
In her acceptance speech, screenwriter Mona Copti expressed both joy for the award and a sense of sorrow due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, emphasizing the troubling dehumanization of Palestinians.
A total of eight films, all celebrating the burgeoning careers of their directors, vied for recognition at the festival. Each film resonated with social themes linked to family dynamics, a focus highlighted by the festival’s artistic director, Remi Bonhomme, during the opening remarks.
Additionally, the jury granted its prize to two other notable films hailing from Somalia and Argentina. Mo Harawe’s “The Village Next to Paradise” tells the harrowing tale of a family living under the constant threat of drone strikes, dreaming of a life beyond their precarious circumstances. Silvina Schnicer’s “The Cottage” explores the disturbing actions of children at a wealthy family’s vacation retreat.
“The Village Next to Paradise” had previously been part of Marrakech’s Atlas Workshops, which aim to nurture filmmakers from Morocco, the Middle East, and Africa. Harawe, in his acceptance speech, praised the Somali cast and crew for their contributions and underscored the award’s importance for Somalia.
Cecilia Rainero, the lead actress in “The Cottage,” expressed gratitude to the jury, noting the award’s significance, especially in the light of recent efforts by Argentinian President Javier Milei to reduce funding for the nation’s film industry.
