Tag Archives: christmas

‘MERCHANTS OF JOY’ (DOCNYC 2025) The holiday hustle.

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Docnyc logoMERCHANTS OF JOY

The Merchants of Joy - Prime Video - [press.amazonmgmstudios.com] Celia Aniskovich‘s DOCNYC film, MERCHANTS OF JOY, brings audiences behind the scenes of an annual venture most of us take for granted. For the five families that dominate the Christmas Tree market in NYC, the Holiday Season is a business of mayhem and memories. Dive into the underworld of a tradition where vendors battle it out for prime positions and quality product in hopes of making each year better than the last.

merchants of joy interviewsThe film is a collection of personalities all jockeying to outdo each other. Greg looks like Santa and is happy to dress as such for the local kids. His son, Little Greg, is poised to take over the family business as his father battles cancer. Brooklynite George (who used to work for Greg) hopes to find love this season and brings bravado to the group. Heather is nine years sober. You will find her supporting those struggling on a similar path. Ciree takes the reins from her parents after 30 years. All of them find themselves under the thumb of the mysterious Kevin Hammer. Think of him as the Christmas Tree Mafia Boss.

merchants of joyThe film is a countdown to Christmas, tracking the complicated and expensive logistics of purchasing trees, trucking them sometimes across the country, bidding on street corner permits, setting up shop, all while navigating weather, workforce, and the economy. It’s a risky business that can be rewarding in the end. The job is physically taxing and emotionally exhausting, but its impact on building family traditions is worth its weight in gold.

merchantsofjoy mainb598Aniskovich intersperses sit-down interviews with action on the ground. The pièce de résistance are the scenes mimicking the stop-motion animation in Christmas classics like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970), and The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974). In fact, Kevin Hammer only appears as an incognito character with phone interview audio. It is a perfect touch, wrapping MERCHANTS OF JOY with a nostalgia bow.

It is a film that will touch your heart. It is a delightful, warm hug, a movie about human connection, and a perfect segway for the holiday spirit.

MERCHANTS OF JOY – Coming to Prime Video Dec 1st!

 

WORLD PREMIERE- MERCHANTS OF JOY

Directed by Celia Aniskovich (Burn It Down!, Call Me Miss Cleo), the film captures the cast of characters behind the city’s Christmas tree stands– small business owners who bring holiday cheer to the streets each season, along with a healthy dose of friendly (and sometimes not-so-friendly) competition with each other.

A lifelong Christmas lover, Aniskovich first discovered the story after reading Epic Magazine and NY Mag’s article “Secrets of the Christmas Tree Trade” and immediately knew this was a story she wanted to tell. Drawn to the community, pride, and hidden labor, she started filming within days of meeting “Big Greg,” – one of the film’s central figures – and eventually Amazon MGM Studios and Artists Equity came aboard the project as well. What began as a portrait of holiday hustle evolved into a story about faith, family, and resilience as she continued following the families. Merchants of Joy

https://www.dialtonefilms.com/merchantsofjoy

Director: Celia Aniskovich
Producer: Celia Aniskovich, Zoe Vock, Arthur Spector, Joshua Davis, Joshuah Bearman
Executive Producer: Todd Lubin, Ivan Schneeberg, David Fortier, Douglas Banker, Gillian Brown, Ben Affleck, Dani Bernfeld
Cinematographer: Carrie Cheek
Editor: Brett Banks, Samuel Kun
Composer: Jackson Greenberg
Language: English
Year: 2025
Accessibility: Sound-Amplification Headphones upon request
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FOF JOY

 

Review: Meet the ‘Tree Man’ who works every Christmas selling trees in New York City

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treeman_poster_final
Every holiday season, hundreds of Christmas tree sellers from across North America descend upon the streets of New York City to ply their trade. Having left their homes and families behind, they endure the adversity of a migrant’s survival living out of their cars and vans. François, a Tree Man and father of three from Québec, returns to the same Manhattan street corner every year to deliver the magic of the season.

Long days, cold nights and living in a van for a month. This documentary follows François, a father of three from Quebec, who is loved by his fellow tree sellers as well as his customers.

Tree Man is solely focused on the people of the NYC tree-selling institution. By following François, you’ll all meet the new generation learning from the veterans. There is a very short segment describing the general history of tree-selling in NYC, but it’s only a taste.

I was also interested in learning more of François’ history and also the turmoil of leaving every year. It’s a nice human interest story.

Also recently added to Netflix, Tree Man is available Tuesday, December 6th on VOD and iTunes.

Francois the Tree Man is far from his wife and three small children in Quebec, selling Christmas trees and living in a van on the streets of New York City. He does it for them. But this is home, too. Like the hundreds of Christmas tree sellers who descend upon the city from Canada, New England and even Europe, Francois delivers the magic of the season over a grueling month in his adopted neighborhood, since Christmas is a special time of the year, people send gifts, and use services as portable north pole to get digital gifts for people. He’s a star, a storyteller, a Santa Claus in a sap-stained coat, a confidant, a friend, and a father figure to the local characters who are his New York family. They also need him. TREE MAN is the story of Francois’s journey, how he arrived here, what holds him, and the conflict that will cause him to leave. As one of Francois’ long-time customers says: “This has nothing to do with the trees anymore.”

Review: ‘CHRISTMAS, AGAIN’ is a true NYC character study.

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Presents
CHRISTMAS, AGAIN

Starring Kentucker Audley and Hannah Gross
Written, Produced & Directed by Charles Poekel

Christmas, Again poster

The holidays inevitably spark memories of both the good times and the bad. We often think of those we’ve lost, while trying desperately to cling to every last minute of holiday spirit. Some love the season. Some think it the worst time of the year. In Charles Poekel‘s CHRISTMAS, AGAIN, we are treated to both sides of the coin. Kentucker Audley Christmas againSynopsis:

For a fifth consecutive December, a heartbroken Noel returns to New York City to work the night shift at a sidewalk Christmas tree lot. Devoid of any holiday spirit, he struggles to stay awake during the long, chilly nights in his trailer, while the daytime traffic keeps him from getting any real rest. As he slowly spirals into despair, he comes to the aid of a mysterious young woman in the park. Her warming presence, matched with some colorful customers, help rescue him from self-destruction.

Hannah Gross Christmas againKentucker Audley owns every minute of screen time as Noel. This organically written character of Poekel‘s allows Audley to give a down-to-earth performance of a young man we all know to well. Tackling depression, loneliness, longing, and emotional survival, Christmas, Again is a such a success in it’s honest simplicity.There are no fancy car chases or explosions. The story is straight forward and beautifully quiet. Hannah Gross gives a lovely performance as Lydia. A little lost, a little sad, but very much a real person. The chemistry between the two characters is a slow and realistic build, again, thanks to Poekel. He never pushes too hard, there are no gimmicks or exploited moments we’re used to in a typical holiday blockbuster. This indie is fresh and easy. Combined with the calling card cinematography of Sean Price Williams (Listen Up Phillip, Queen of Earth), the film has a gorgeous added intimacy with it’s single handheld camera and use of close ups. All involved should  be extremely proud of their work. I applaud the departure in tone and style. While I certainly enjoy a good, old fashion Hollywood role call such as The Coopers, CHRISTMAS, AGAIN is a comforting film that has an incredible amount of heart and relatability.

FACTORY 25 will release CHRISTMAS, AGAIN at the MoMA in New York (and exclusive SVOD on Fandor) on Thursday, December 3rd, and  Los Angeles on Friday, December 11th.

New Poster: ‘Paddington’ Coming To Theaters This Christmas!

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Paddington_Teaser2_FINALjpg[3] I had a Paddington bear in my early years. I can still feel hugging him in my arms. Couldn’t tell you anything about the story though. Read More →