CAREER HIGHLIGHT(S):
Copti is an Oscar-nominated Palestinian filmmaker born and raised in Yafa. His work draws on personal experiences and broad societal and political narratives, offering a nuanced perspective on the Palestinian minority in Israel. In 2009, his co-directed debut feature, AJAMI, with Yaron Shani, won the Camera d'Or Special Mention at Cannes and was also nominated for the 82nd Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category, winning over 15 awards worldwide. Copti was also on the jury of several film festivals, including Tribeca and Thessaloniki, and was the President of the Human Rights Award at the 2011 Istanbul International Film Festival. Copti was part of the team that launched the Doha Tribeca Film Festival and the Doha Film Institute, as well, and headed the DFI's education department until 2011.

TWELVE-MONTH HIGHLIGHT(S):
HAPPY HOLIDAYS: In his sweeping Palestinian family drama set in Haifa, with an all-non-professional cast, Copti explores how personal ambitions, bad decisions, and relentless social pressures strain even the strongest bonds. Indie Sales boarded the film’s sales rights in February 2024 ahead of its world premiere in Venice’s Orizzonti Competition, where it won Best Screenplay. The film went on to pick up further awards at Hamburg, Palm Springs, Thessaloniki, and Marrakech.