# Christmess

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{{Short description|Australian Christmas film}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2026}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox film	
| name           = 	
| image          =	
| caption        = 	
| director       = [Heath Davis](/source/Heath_Davis_(director))
| producer       = {{plainlist|* Rick Beecroft	
* Heath Davis
* Daniel Fenech
* Jai Kemp
* Mathew McCracken 
* Cindy Pritchard 
}}	
| screenplay     = Heath Davis
| based_on       = 	
| starring       = {{plainlist|	
* [Hannah Joy](/source/Middle_Kids)
* [Steve Le Marquand](/source/Steve_Le_Marquand)
* [Darren Gilshenan](/source/Darren_Gilshenan)
}}	
| music          = Matt Sladen
| cinematography = Chris Bland
| editing        = Romain Mongin
| studio         = {{plainlist|	
* Albert Street Films
* Brick Studios
}}	
| distributor    = 	
| released       = {{Film date|2023|10|29|[Austin Film Festival](/source/Austin_Film_Festival)|2023|11|30|Australia|df=y}}
| runtime        = 	
| country        = Australia 
| language       = English	
| budget         = 	
}}	
'''''Christmess''''' is a 2023 Australian Christmas film written and directed by [Heath Davis](/source/Heath_Davis_(director)). It stars [Hannah Joy](/source/Middle_Kids), [Steve Le Marquand](/source/Steve_Le_Marquand), and [Darren Gilshenan](/source/Darren_Gilshenan).<!---self-referential redirect at the moment; to distinguish from a NZ cricketer of the same name.--->

==Premise==
Three recovering addicts try to get through the festive season without relapsing, in [Campbelltown](/source/Campbelltown%2C_New_South_Wales), a suburb in [western Sydney](/source/western_Sydney), Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-10/christmess-film-review/103200484|website=ABC.net|accessdate=13 December 2023|title= This Australian festive film starring the lead singer of Middle Kids is for people who find Christmas hard|first=Katherine|last=Smyrk|date=9 December 2023}}</ref>

==Cast==
* [Hannah Joy](/source/Middle_Kids) as Joy
* [Steve Le Marquand](/source/Steve_Le_Marquand) as Chris Flint
* [Darren Gilshenan](/source/Darren_Gilshenan) as Nick
* Aaron Glenane as Jeff
* Nicole Pastor as Noelle
* [George Burgess](/source/George_Burgess_(rugby_league)) as a Doorman/bouncer

==Production==
An independent Australian film, ''Christmess'' is written and directed by Heath Davis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/christmess-is-undoubtedly-one-of-the-best-christmas-films-to-emerge-from-anywhere-in-recent-years-218435|website=The Conversation|accessdate=13 December 2023|title= Christmess is undoubtedly one of the best Christmas films to emerge – from anywhere – in recent years|date=November 29, 2023|first= Ari|last=Mattes}}</ref> Davis began writing an “authentic” Christmas film after Christmas 2020 when he spent time in isolation during the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Australia) without work or family, and watched a lot of “bad Christmas films”.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://junkee.com/christmess-movie-heath-davis-interview/356051|website=Junkee|accessdate=13 December 2023|title= "Christmas Can Be Bleak": Heath Davis On His New Movie 'Christmess'|first=David James|last= Young|date=12 December 2023}}</ref>

It is produced by Daniel Fenech, Cindy Pritchard, and Matthew McCracken. Funding for the film partially came from crowd-funding.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://au.variety.com/2023/film/trailers/christmess-film-trailer-11409/?amp=1|website=Variety|date=4 October 2023|accessdate=13 December 2023|title= Watch the Trailer for Australian Festive Film 'Christmess'}}</ref>

===Casting===
The film marks the feature film acting debut of Hannah Joy, the lead singer with rock band [Middle Kids](/source/Middle_Kids). Joy wrote several original songs for Christmess, including ''Empty Chair'', ''Deadbeat Dads'', and ''Boxing Day'' and performs all three songs in character during the film.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Rolling Stone|url= https://au.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/christmess-trailer-middle-kids-hannah-joy-50533/|first=Conor|last=Lochrie|accessdate=13 December 2023|title= Middle Kids' Hannah Joy Makes Her Big Screen Debut in Festive Film|date=4 October 2023}}</ref>

===Filming===
Principal photography got underway in [Sydney](/source/Sydney) in June 2022 with a three-week filming schedule.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2022/film/news/christmess-film-heath-davis-1235283332/|website=Variety|accessdate=13 December 2023|date= June 2, 2022|title=Alcoholic 'Christmess' Film From Heath Davis Shooting in Sydney|first=Patrick|last=Frater}}</ref>

==Release==
The film had its world premiere at the [Austin Film Festival](/source/Austin_Film_Festival) on 29 October 2023. It was released in Australia on 30 November 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://if.com.au/heath-davis-christmess-to-premiere-at-austin-film-festival/|website=If.com|accessdate=13 December 2023|title= Heath Davis' 'Christmess' to premiere at Austin Film Festival|first=Sean|last=Slatter|date=September 21, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://austinfilmfestival.com/festival-and-conference-aff/2023-conference-schedule-2/|website=Austin Film Festival|title=Schedule|accessdate=13 December 2023}}</ref>

==Reception==
Nadine Whitney in ''[The Curb](/source/The_Curb_(website))'' described the film as "painful, hopeful, gentle, and funny as hell".<ref>{{cite web|first= Nadine |last=Whitney |website=The Curb|url=https://www.thecurb.com.au/heath-davis-christmess-is-the-major-miracle-independent-australian-cinema-needs/|date=7 December 2023|accessdate=13 December 2023|title=Heath Davis' Christmess is the Major Miracle Independent Australian Cinema Needs}}</ref>

Luke Buckmaster in ''[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)'' described it as "a very absorbing film, tenderly written and directed".<ref>{{cite web|website=The Guardian|accessdate=13 December 2023|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/13/best-australian-christmas-movies-2023|title= Sweary Santas and barbecue explosions: what's the best Australian Christmas movie?|date=12 December 2023|first=Luke|last=Buckmaster}}</ref>

==See also==
*[List of Christmas films](/source/List_of_Christmas_films)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|14845814}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christmess}}
Category:2023 films
Category:2023 English-language films
Category:2023 Australian films
Category:Films shot in Sydney
Category:Australian Christmas films
Category:2020s Christmas films
Category:English-language Christmas films

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Christmess](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmess) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmess?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.