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Horror comedy “Happy Times” is debuting its trailer ahead of its international premiere in the Midnight Shivers section of Tallinn Black Nights Intl. Film Festival. M-appeal is handling world sales.

Director Michael Mayer and Guy Ayal co-wrote the script, which won the script award at Haifa Intl. Film Festival, where the film had its world premiere. The film received rave reviews in the Israeli press, including Haaretz, which wrote: “Every butchered body and every murder terrifies you, but also makes you laugh at the same time.”

The film takes place over the course of a Shabbat dinner at a fancy Hollywood Hills mansion, during which a toxic mix of alcohol, egos, cultural differences, lust and greed derails the evening, and things spin out of control. Secrets are revealed, relationships are tested and getting out in one piece will be the ultimate challenge.

The cast includes Michael Aloni, Lira Chiamami, Iris Bahr,...

Alejandro Amenábar’s ‘While at War’ wins international award.

Oren Gerner’s Africa and Yaron Shani’s Reborn have been jointly awarded the top award at the 35th Haifa International Film Festival (Oct 12-21).

Scroll down for full list of winners

As joint winners of the best Israeli feature film award, the prize of 100,000 Nis will be divided between them.

The dramas each won three trophies at the festival’s awards on Saturday (Oct 19).

Africa, the story of how a retiree copes with growing older, also picked up the Danny Lerner award for best Israeli feature debut and the Michael...

M-appeal has acquired world sales rights to Michael Mayer’s dark comedy “Happy Times,” and will present the film to buyers at Cannes. Mayer’s debut feature, “Out in the Dark,” world premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, sold to more than 40 countries, and screened at more than 125 festivals, winning 27 awards.

“Happy Times” centers on a Shabbat dinner at a swanky Hollywood Hills mansion, over the course of which a toxic mix of alcohol, egos, cultural differences, lust and greed derails the evening as secrets are revealed, relationships get tested and bodies become endangered.

The screenplay was written by Guy Ayal and Mayer, who describes the film as “a crazy mix of comedy and violence, with ‎outrageous performances.”

The pic stars Stéfi Celma, best known for Netflix series “Call My Agent!”, and Mike Burstyn, who appeared in the series “Juda.” The producer is Paola Bisson, and Erri de Luca is executive producer.