Love, Actually meets Ocean's Eleven

Why The Christmas Grift Works

Audiences love a holiday mess who gets back up again—and Charli Swann is exactly the kind of chaotic, big-hearted heroine viewers immediately root for.
When her Christmas grift, posing as a bell ringer at a large shopping center lands her in community service, the movie opens into everything people want from seasonal programming:
- a wholesome love interest,
- a magical Santa with impeccable timing,
- family worth fighting for
- a redemption arc that hits hard in all the right ways.
With its comedy, warmth, and magical realism, The Christmas Grift sits perfectly in the booming market of cozy Christmas films that dominate streaming queues from November to January.

The writers of The Christmas Grift

Written by Luke and Martha Van Garza, the husband-and-wife creative team behind Inner Sanctum Films, The Christmas Grift arrives with the perfect balance of craft, heart, and cinematic charm.

Luke’s background as a story analyst for HBO and Phoenix Pictures gives the script its clean structure, emotional payoff, and commercial clarity, while Martha’s award-winning visual and comedic sensibility brings the magic, warmth, and personality that define a modern Christmas classic.

Together, they’ve built a story that blends heartfelt redemption, grounded humor, and a touch of Santa-fueled wonder into a treatment that feels instantly familiar yet completely fresh.

With its lovable heroine, cozy Austin setting, and universal themes of healing and second chances, The Christmas Grift is the kind of feel-good holiday movie that’s an easy sell for distribution—because it delivers exactly what seasonal audiences crave: Christmas spirit, a smile, and the warm reassurance that miracles still happen.

I want more!