# Happy Holidays (film)

Happy Holidays (Arabic: ينعاد عليكو, romanized: Yin'Ād Aliku, lit. 'May it be repeated for you') is a 2024 Palestinian family drama film written and directed by Scandar Copti. It premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on 4 September 2024, where it won the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay.

## Cast

* Manar Shehab as Fifi
* Toufic Danial as Rami
* Shani Dahari as Shirley, Rami's girlfriend
* Meirav Memoresky as Miri, Shirley's sister
* Imad Hourani as Fouad, Fifi and Rami's father
* Wafaa Aoun as Hanan, Fifi and Rami's mother
* Sophie Awaada as Leila, Fifi and Rami's sister
* Raed Burbara as Walid, Fifi's lover
* Essam Haddad as Hani

## Production

The cast is composed entirely of non-professional actors. Writer and director Scandar Copti stated, "They're real people that come from the professional background of the characters that they portray. For example, Miri (Meirav Memoresky) is a real nurse, and Walid (Raed Burbara) is a real doctor."
In his acceptance speech for the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay, Copti stated, "I stand here deeply honored, yet profoundly affected by the difficult times we're living through over the past 11 months, our shared humanity and moral compass have been tested as we witness the ongoing genocide in Gaza. This painful reality reminds us of the devastating consequences of oppression, which is a theme in our film. Our film looks at how moral narratives can bring us together as communities, but also blind us to the suffering of others."

## Release

Indie Sales acquired the distribution rights to the film in February 2024. The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on 4 September 2024 as part of the Orizzonti competition.

## Reception

Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter called the film "a cleverly structured Palestinian drama" that "explores constriction and complicity in Israeli society".
Siddhant Adlakha of Variety called the film "a lively, naturalistic ensemble piece" and "a dynamic Palestinian family drama".
Olivia Popp of Cineuropa wrote, "Palestinian filmmaker Scandar Copti makes effective use of an ensemble cast in this portrait of contemporary family life in Israel, replete with its many intricacies".
Clotilde Chinnici of Loud and Clear Reviews gave the film three out of five stars and called it "a culturally necessary film that encourages us to question the status quo and be open to changing it".
Mina Takla of AwardsWatch gave the film a grade of B, stating that it "does not disappoint". She further wrote, "Boasting one of the year's most thoughtful and potent screenplays full of timely themes and rich characterization, the film is certain to find further appreciation as it continues its festival run."

## Accolades

| Award | Year | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| Marrakech International Film Festival | 2024 | Étoile d'Or | Happy Holidays | Won |
| Marrakech International Film Festival | 2024 | Best Performance by an Actress | Wafaa Aoun and Manar Shehab | Won |
| Thessaloniki International Film Festival | 2024 | Golden Alexander | Happy Holidays | Won |
| Venice Film Festival | 2024 | Orizzonti Award for Best Film | Happy Holidays | Nominated |
| Venice Film Festival | 2024 | Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay | Scandar Copti | Won |