by FilmInk Staff
“Our unconventional Christmas movie has heart, and with Heath and I both having spent a large portion of our upbringing in Greater Western Sydney, it feels right to be shooting the film here in Campbelltown,” says CHRISTMESS producer Daniel Fenech. “We have a strong local contingent of cast and crew from the Macarthur region, and there’s a lot of love and community support behind the project.”
CHRISTMESS follows once famous actor Chris Flint (Le Marquand) who leaves rehab and takes a job as a Santa in a shopping mall, where he comes face to face with his estranged daughter (Nicole Pastor) and grandson. Supported by his sponsor Nick (Gilshenan) and sharp tongued musician (Joy) also in recovery, Chris aims to stay sober and win his daughter’s forgiveness in time for Christmas.
“I love Christmas movies, but I’ve never really seen a Christmas movie that depicts the reality of what the holiday season is for many of us – crippling stress, anxiety, malaise and economic struggle, all too often underpinned by alcohol abuse,” comments Heath Davis, who makes his fourth feature here, following Broke, Locusts and Book Week. “At its core, Christmess is a celebration of the human spirit, the kindness of strangers and the healing power of forgiveness. It feels amazing to finally be in production with an incredible team and I can’t wait to share the film with audiences.”
CHRISTMESS was financed through crowd funding, and is currently in its final week of production, with cast and crew adhering to COVID-safe filming practices.