Netflix is gifting viewers a locally made festive feature this weekend, with 2025 AACTA Best Indie Film nominee Christmess landing on the platform tomorrow.
The 2023 film stars Steve Le Marquand of Two Hands, Darren Gilshenan from Colin from Accounts and singer songwriter Hannah Joy from ARIA winning band Middle Kids, who also appears as a musically inclined character in the story.
Written and directed by Australian filmmaker Heath Davis, the movie follows a washed up actor now forced to play Santa in a suburban shopping centre after alcoholism derails his career.
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His life veers into new territory when he unexpectedly reconnects with his estranged daughter and attempts to turn things around, helped along by a group of unlikely friends.
Darren Gilshenan, Steve Le Marquand and Hannah Joy lead Aussie festive film Christmess arriving on Netflix (image – supplied / Sie Kitts Photography)
The indie title premiered at the Austin Film Festival in late 2023, hit local cinemas later that year before streaming on BINGE, and now lands on Netflix just as audiences start searching for something festive, familiar and a little chaotic.
Featuring Le Marquand, Gilshenan, Joy, Nicole Pastor and Aaron Glenane, Christmess blends redemption drama with messy humour and a hit of Australian heart.
The film was produced by Daniel Fenech, Rick Beecroft, Heath Davis and Nicola Nossal through Crash House Productions and Brick Studios, with cinematography by Chris Bland and music by Matt Sladen.
TV Blackbox understands a sequel to the film is currently being written, and with a lot of love for this little indie film, it signals another win for homegrown productions finding fresh life across streaming platforms.
Christmess arrives on Netflix in Australia tomorrow, Saturday 6 December.
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