Hallmark’s Christmas season just got another feel-good entry with The Christmas Cup – a hometown, holiday-romance that mixes small-town spirit, a little athletic rivalry, and the kind of warm-hearted second chances Hallmark does best.
Directed by Robin Dunne and written from a story by Mark Haapala and Stewart Gold (teleplay by Jason Shane Scott and Emily-Ross Wilson), the film follows Staff Sergeant Kelly Brandt as she returns home, heals, and proves there’s more than one way to serve your community. The movie sets in an American town, but the whole shooting takes place in Canadian settings.
The Christmas Cup Filming Locations
The movie was shot in Kelowna, British Columbia, in Canada’s scenic Okanagan Valley. The Hallmark shoot began in mid-June 2025, with principal photography running for a few weeks through the end of the month. Kelowna’s lakeside streets, cozy neighbourhoods, and easily transformable storefronts gave the production the perfect Christmas-small-town look – all dressed up with holiday lights, wreaths, trees, and garlands to create that classic Hallmark winter wonderland.
Kelowna, British Columbia
Kelowna is a dependable stand-in for postcard small towns: snowy park benches, main-street cafes, and community halls that can be turned into curling rinks, team meeting rooms, or tournament stages. The city’s film-friendly crews and flexible locations made it easy for the production to stage everything from family interiors to the climactic Christmas Cup tournament.
If you’ve watched Hallmark over the years, Kelowna’s streets may feel familiar – the city has hosted several holiday productions (like Our Holiday Story, Christmas at the Chalet, We Need a little Christmas) and knows how to sell that “quaint and cozy” look.
What is The Christmas Cup about?
Staff Sergeant Kelly Brandt suffers a knee injury that threatens her military career. Sent home to recover over the holidays, Kelly’s family convinces her to step in and coach the hometown team for the annual Christmas Cup – a friendly but fiercely competitive local tournament against a neighbouring town.
As Kelly trains the team, she reconnects with her leadership strengths and the community she once protected. Along the way, she grows close to Fire Captain Quinn Stokley, and a slow-burn romance blooms amid drills, tactics, and carols.
Just when Kelly starts to believe she’s found another way to serve, she receives orders to report back to a Hawaiian base – and suddenly the stakes are both personal and professional. The story balances sport-style teamwork with holiday romance, and ultimately asks: can you find purpose in new places when your original plan doesn’t pan out? (Short answer: yes – but not without a few snowball fights and heart-to-heart pep talks.)
Behind the Scenes
Robin Dunne, who directs the film, brings a sharp eye for character and cozy staging – ideal for a Hallmark holiday romance. The story concept came from Mark Haapala and Stewart Gold, with the teleplay by Jason Shane Scott and Emily-Ross Wilson; together they shape Kelly’s military past and small-town present into an uplifting holiday arc.
Filming in June allowed the production to control the weather and dress Kelowna as a winter town, packing streets and sets with lights, trees, and seasonal props to make the movie feel authentically Christmassy.
Crew members leaned on Kelowna’s experienced local teams for locations, extras, and practical production support. That local collaboration is a common Hallmark tactic: pick a town that can play many roles, then let a strong design team and friendly residents help turn it into a believable holiday village.
Cast of The Christmas Cup
Rhiannon Fish as Staff Sergeant Kelly Brandt – Rhiannon anchors the film as the determined servicewoman learning to rebuild on home turf. Her Hallmark résumé and TV credits make her a natural fit for this mix of heart and grit.
Ben Rosenbaum as Fire Captain Quinn Stokley – Quinn is the helpful, steady firefighter who becomes Kelly’s teammate on and off the field. Rosenbaum brings warmth and easy chemistry to the role.
Supporting cast includes Natasha Burnett (Bree), Jonas Janz (Duke), Jaeda Lily Miller (Starla), Everly Dunne (Maddie), Harlow Robbins (Kip), Michael Teigen (Mickey), and others who fill the town with familiar faces and Hallmark-style community charm.
Where to watch The Christmas Cup?
The Christmas Cup premieres Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 6/5c on Hallmark Channel, and will also stream on Hallmark+ the next day for subscribers. The movie will reair on the following dates:
- Dec 3 at 10/9c
- Dec 8 at 10/9c
- Dec 17 at 4/3c
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