Palestinian filmmaker Scandar Copti's *Happy Holidays* has clinched the prestigious Golden Star, the highest accolade at the Marrakech International Film Festival. This family drama weaves the stories of four individuals whose lives intersect. Copti's work also triumphed in the acting categories, with Wafaa Aoun and Manar Shehab jointly winning Best Actress for their compelling performances as a mother and daughter. Roman Lutsky secured the Best Actor award for his role in Damian Kocur's film *Under The Volcano*, with Kocur himself receiving the Best Direction prize. The jury made an unusual decision by granting two Jury Prizes instead of one. The first went to Silvina Schnicer's feature *The Cottage*, and the second to Somali director Mo Harawe for his debut *The Village Next to Paradise*, screened at Cannes' Un Certain Regard earlier this year. The festival featured various programs, including 'Conversations' with acclaimed directors, tributes to Naïma Elmcherqui, David Cronenberg, and Sean Penn, and the Atlas Workshops, which support directors in refining their films with over 300 industry professionals.
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