This holiday season, Christmas of Giving brings back everything we love about festive storytelling – community, compassion, and second chances. Directed by Oliver Friedman and written by Summer Isreal Johnson, this cozy Christmas tale was beautifully filmed in Buffalo, New York, a city that knows how to wear snow like a movie star.
From glowing storefronts to charming old churches, Buffalo adds that picture-perfect warmth that makes you believe Christmas spirit can truly be captured on camera.
Where Was Christmas of Giving Filmed?
The movie was entirely filmed in Buffalo, New York, a place that’s quietly turning into a favorite holiday hotspot for filmmakers.
Production teams used both local studios and on-location settings, highlighting Buffalo’s cozy downtown and its naturally snowy charm. When nature didn’t provide snow, filmmakers just smiled – because Buffalo usually takes care of that on its own.
Residents even got a glimpse of the film crew setting up twinkling lights and camera rigs along snow-covered streets, and many locals participated as background extras or crew assistants. It’s one of those productions where the city doesn’t just serve as a backdrop – it becomes a character.
Buffalo’s architecture, especially its vintage buildings and small-town shop fronts, gave the perfect nostalgic setting for a movie built around generosity and togetherness. New York is a famous filming location, one of the recent holiday movie shoot includes A Newport Christmas.
What is the movie about?
At the heart of Christmas of Giving is Belle Carter (Ash Tsai), a nonprofit director who spends every day helping others – until her own organization faces its biggest crisis yet.
When funding is cut and volunteers start losing hope, Belle finds herself fighting to save her mission right before Christmas. Things take an unexpected turn when Marine Sgt. Will Mattinson (Marshall Williams) – her old love – returns home, bringing both memories and the possibility of redemption.
Adding more spark is Clara James (Julia Reilly), a consultant sent to “streamline” Belle’s nonprofit operations, who ends up learning that Christmas miracles can’t be managed like spreadsheets.
Christmas of Giving Cast
- Ash Tsai as Belle Carter – the heart behind the nonprofit.
- Marshall Williams as Sgt. Will Mattinson – the Marine who returns home to find more than he expected.
- Julia Reilly as Clara James – the consultant whose logic is no match for Christmas magic.
Together, the trio creates a heartfelt chemistry that feels effortless and grounded – like a small-town story told by real people.
Behind the Scenes
Director Oliver Friedman wanted to make sure the film didn’t just look like a Christmas movie – it felt like one. That’s why Buffalo was the perfect choice.
Local communities helped with decorations, small businesses offered their storefronts for shooting, and even the city’s unpredictable weather played its part, dusting the sets with fresh snow at just the right moments.
Writer Summer Isreal Johnson has mentioned that the story was inspired by real-life community organizations that struggle during the holidays – a nod to all the unsung heroes who keep giving, even when it’s not easy.
Fun fact: Many of the extras in the charity scenes were real Buffalo residents who volunteer with local nonprofits. The result? Every frame feels sincere, not staged.
Where to Watch Christmas of Giving?
Christmas of Giving (aka A Belle Christmas) premieres on Great American Pure Flix on Thursday, November 6th at 8 pm Eastern and also, on Great American Family on Sunday, November 9th at 8 pm as part of Great American Media’s Christmas lineup. So, whether you’re curled up with a blanket or decorating your tree, it’s one of those feel-good films that perfectly fits a cozy December night.
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This movie was filmed in Historic Holy Trinity Church and School, an historical landmark in Niagara Falls, NY and the diner is located in Youngstown, NY.
Many of those scene sites are located in cities surrounding Buffalo like Youngstown and Niagara Falls NY