#Cinema du soir, bonsoir !

#ScandarCopti • Chroniques d'Haïfa - Histoires palestiniennes

Un film sur la place des palestiniens vivant à Israël, et plus globalement de la place des femmes dans cette société. Edifiant !
J'ai été choqué par l'histoire de Shirley, peut-être la plus lugubre de toutes.
Très chaudement recommandé !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyRJQGkkJjw

CHRONIQUES D'HAÏFA Bande Annonce (2025)

YouTube
arts24 - Palestinian director Scandar Copti's 'Happy Holidays': A bold portrait of life between two worlds

In this episode of arts24, Eve Jackson sits down with Scandar Copti – a Palestinian filmmaker, Israeli citizen and one of the most original cinematic voices working today. His new film, "Happy Holidays", is set in the northern city of Haifa and unfolds in four interwoven chapters, following the intersecting lives of Palestinian Christians and Jewish Israelis. As these characters navigate love, gender roles and the invisible weight of politics, the film reveals a society shaped as much by silence as by conflict.

FRANCE 24
Film Movement Takes North America For Palestinian Director Scandar Copti’s ‘Happy Holidays’

Film Movement Takes North America For Palestinian Director Scandar Copti’s ‘Happy Holidays’

Deadline

Quoting Scandar Copti on cultural appropriation and filmmaking beyond Israeli constraints: "Israelis live in a bubble and are unaware of the reality on the ground"

Palestinian filmmaker Scandar Copti discusses the cultural appropriation he experienced representing Israel with his film "Ajami," which led to his move abroad and the creation of his latest film, "Happy Holidays," a Palestinian production filmed in Haifa. He emphasizes his connection to his cultural and historical roots, the limitations he felt working under Israeli funding, and his desire to create films that explore universal human experiences and encourage critical thought, rather than being confined by political narratives.

Referring back to Israeli cinema, from which he distanced himself following the Oscars incident with then-Culture Minister Limor Livnat, considered liberal compared to the current government, Scandar Copti states,

[...] "I think Israelis live in a bubble and are unaware of the reality on the ground. They only absorb the narrative they are fed, without questioning it. They don't try to understand who these Palestinians are who have lived in Jaffa for years. Where did they come from? Did they come from Europe or North Africa like most of the Israeli public, or are they an indigenous population? The story of 'Ajami' shattered that bubble. I think Israeli cinema should strive for more introspection. There are some documentary filmmakers who do this wonderfully, but when it comes to narrative cinema, it returns to the bubble, and people deal with personal matters disconnected from issues they should be critical about. This requires courage, and I would be happy to see more courage. There are some such creators, like Eran Kolirin for example, but I don't want to sound naive. There is a lot of work ahead of us, and we need more brave people."

Hebrew https://www.ynet.co.il/entertainment/article/bycmmbwiyg

Binding / Blinding

Scandar Copti is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker and Associate Arts Professor of Film at NYU Abu Dhabi. He is known for his work with non-actors, and his film "Ajami" received a Camera d'Or Special Mention at Cannes and an Oscar nomination. His film "Happy Holidays" premiered at the Venice Film Festival and won the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay.

In the interview for FRED (attached video clip) he expresses the difficult duality of premiering his film "Happy Holidays" at the Venice Film Festival while grappling with the "heavy cloud" and "grief" caused by the ongoing situation back home in Palestine and Israel. He mentions the challenges of finding the right words to describe his feelings during this time. Later in the interview, while discussing the themes of his film, he touches upon the indoctrination and moral choices within Israeli society that contribute to the "militarization of society" and the "sustaining and maintaining" of the occupation.

[...] I started looking at into it and I understood that it's about moral choices and how our morality is designed it's true we say you know morality binds us as a group, but it blinds us, it blinds us to the option that there could be other forms of moral choices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BUFhFccqWM

@israel
@palestine
#IsraelOccupation
#IsraelWarCrimes
#PalestinianFilm
#CulturalAppropriation
#ScandarCopti
#HappyHolidaysMovie
#OatmealQuotes

"הישראלים חיים בבועה, הם רק סופגים את הנרטיב מבלי להטיל בו ספק"

ב-2009, סכנדר קובטי הגיע יחד עם שותפו ירון שני לבימת האוסקר. זה קרה בזכות "עג'מי", סרטם עטור-השבחים,אלא שאחרי השערורייה שפרצה כאשר הכריז כי סרטו לא מייצג את ישראל - קובטי עזב את הארץ. עכשיו, אחרי שחזר ועם הסרט החדש "חגים שמחים" שצולם פה, הוא מספר ל-ynet על היחסים המורכבים שלו עם המקום - ועל האופטימיות שממלאת אותו למרות הכל: "האירים חוו 800 שנה של כיבוש אנגלי, אז מי אני שלא אהיה אופטימי?"

ynet

Palestinian Family Saga ‘Happy Holidays’ Takes Top Honors in Marrakech at Rousing and Politically Resonant Ceremony
#Variety #Festivals #Global #News #HappyHolidays #MarrakechFilmFestival #ScandarCopti

https://variety.com/2024/film/festivals/marrakech-winners-happy-holidays-1236242257/

Marrakech Winners: 'Happy Holidays' Takes Top Honors

Marrakech wraps 21st edition with calls for action in Gaza, Ukraine and Argentina.

Variety

Palestinian Filmmaker Scandar Copti’s Israel-Set Family Drama ‘Happy Holidays’ Wins Thessaloniki Film Festival
#Variety #Global #MarketsFestivals #News #ScandarCopti #ThessalonikiFilmFestival

https://variety.com/2024/film/global/happy-holidays-wins-thessaloniki-film-festival-1236205852/

Scandar Copti’s 'Happy Holidays' Wins Thessaloniki Film Festival

Palestinian filmmaker Scandar Copti’s Israel-set family drama 'Happy Holidays' won the Golden Alexander at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.

Variety
‘Happy Holidays’ Director Scandar Copti on Finding Love Across the Israeli, Palestinian Divide

The latest feature by the Oscar-nominated director of 'Ajami' follows four women living in Israel whose fates are linked by a series of surprising events.

The Hollywood Reporter
‘Happy Holidays’ Review: A Cleverly Structured Palestinian Drama Explores Constriction and Complicity in Israeli Society

The latest feature by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Scandar Copti ('Ajami') observes four characters whose fates are linked through a series of surprising events.

The Hollywood Reporter

‘Happy Holidays’ Review: A Dynamic Palestinian Family Drama Chronicles Arab and Jewish Lives in Israel
#Variety #News #Reviews #HappyHolidays #ScandarCopti #VeniceFilmFestival

https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/happy-holidays-review-1236132899/

'Happy Holidays' Review: A Dynamic Palestinian Drama Set in Israel

'Happy Holidays,' Palestinian director Scandal Copti's first feature since the Oscar-nominated 'Ajami,' is a lively, naturalistic ensemble piece.  

Variety

Oscar-Nominated Palestinian Filmmaker Scandar Copti’s Israel-Set ‘Happy Holidays’ Lands on Indie Sales’ Roster (EXCLUSIVE)
#Variety #Global #News #HappyHolidays #IndieSales #ScandarCopti

https://variety.com/2024/film/global/scandar-copti-happy-holidays-indie-sales-berlin-1235895338/

Palestinian Helmer Scandar Copti's Happy Holidays Lands at Indie Sales

Indie Sales has acquired 'Happy Holidays,' the sophomore feature of Oscar-nominated Palestinian filmmaker Scandar Copti.

Variety