HOLIDAY WATCH LIST
- Dec. 20, 2021

Happy Winter Solstice to our Film Fatales family!

We are grateful for this talented community and wish everyone a happy and safe new year. We are excited to share some of the titles we can't wait to catch up on this holiday season here at FF:

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An American Girl Story: Extraordinary Christmas by Valerie Weiss

It's Christmas, 1955 in Daytona Beach, FL, and middle child Maryellen longs to stand out amidst the hustle and bustle of her big family. When Benji, a family friend afflicted with polio comes to stay with them, Maryellen is intent on making the holiday special. After her plans for a big celebration fall through, she discovers the best gifts are often simple, meaningful gestures of friendship.

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Holidays by Sarah Adina Smith

An anthology feature film that puts a uniquely dark and original spin on some of the most iconic and beloved holidays of all time by challenging our folklore, traditions and assumptions.

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Every Day Is a Holiday by Theresa Loong

Chinese-American filmmaker Theresa Loong knew little about her father's past. One day, she found his secret diary, written when he was a POW in Japan during World War II. He was imprisoned with men from the Netherlands, America, Malaysia, Singapore, England and Australia. In this documentary, we explore the bonds of the father-daughter relationship and place themes of growing older, immigration and racism in the context of "living history." Paul Loong talks of his experiences as a POW in Japan and his subsequent quest to become an American. We discover why, despite much suffering, "Every Day Is a Holiday."

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Christmas Harmony by Nanea Miyata

Kelley Jakle stars as young woman who returns to her small hometown to rediscover music, family bonds, and the magic of the Christmas season.

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Coins for Christmas by Rhonda F. Baraka

Single mom Madison finds herself scraping pennies together two weeks before Christmas after the IRS freezes her bank account, her ex fails to come through with any help and her boss fires her. Desperate to pay bills and buy gifts for her teenage children, Madison jumps into the ever-popular "gig economy." That's when she meets and eventually gets hired by obnoxious, sidelined former pro football player Alec Darby, also secretly on the verge of going broke. This odd couple butts heads time and time again, but they eventually forge a friendship. And, to their surprise, they learn a lot about themselves and teach one another how to be better people.

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Dear Santa by Dana Nachman

An elixir to our current state, this story takes us on the fanciful and poignant journey of a little known program called Operation Santa. For more than 100 years human elves have been helping Santa respond to the thousands of letters that are written and mailed to him. This gripping documentary crisscrosses the country following the most emotional letters as the elves work hard to make sure each child's Christmas dreams come true.

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Hometown Christmas by Emily Moss Wilson

Back in Louisiana for Christmas, Noelle Collins (Beverley Mitchell) has big plans to resurrect the town's live nativity, a beloved tradition that her late mother used to put on. Things become complicated, however, when Noelle runs into her high school sweetheart.

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Twas The Chaos Before Christmas by Terri J. Vaughn

Morgan and Jayla Mitchell are an affluent family from New York City. In an effort to keep the family together over the Christmas holidays, they decide to rent a luxurious home in Washington, DC. Morgan's mother can easily join the Mitchells and their teenanged daughter, Raven to celebrate Christmas there. Val and Ed Russell are a working-class family and parents to teenagers Deshawn and Destiny Russell from Walkertown, North Carolina. When Val hits the lottery, she chooses to spend her winnings on a luxurious rental in Washington, DC over the Christmas holidays. That way, they can spend time doing free tourist activites and celebrate Christmas with Ed's sister Shanice, a Howard University student who can't afford to go home for the holidays. In the perfect storm, Jayla and Val, one unbeknownst to the other, book the same holiday rental on different websites, but over the same period of time. When the families all arrive at the same propoerty, all chaos erupts.

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A Christmas Winter Song by Camille Brown

Clio befriends Fred, a homeless former jazz singer down on his luck. They form a special bond over music, and Clio, having just lost her own father, helps Fred reconnect with his own daughter, just in time for Christmas.

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