Futureworks Favourite Festive Films

First up are our Principal, Chris Mayo and Vice Principal, Ben Norris. They chose nostalgia over a festive-focused film selection, citing timeless classics such as the Guns of Navarone, an Indiana Jones or classic Bond film for their go-to films. Evoking emotions of childhoods where there were only four channels on the TV and movies not available on-demand. UK families would plan their day around the viewing times of the Christmas TV Premieres of major blockbusters, usually released at peak viewing times on Boxing Day. Chris and Ben have fond memories of the excitement of settling on the sofa to watch classic movie magic.

Martha Horler, our Head of Registry Services & Business Intelligence, chose Harvey, starring James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd, an amiable but eccentric man whose best friend is an invisible six-foot-three rabbit. It’s a heartwarming and wonderful tale of belief, sentiment, and friendship, with a stand-out performance from the legendary James Stewart.

Die Hard is one of those controversial films that rears its action-packed head every year, with some declaring it their December highlight and others deciding that it’s fun but certainly not festive. Student Records Officer Kimmi Barry, Adam Shearman from IT & Technical Support, and our Head of the School of Art & Design, Ken Lau, selected the Bruce Willis bullet-riddled blockbuster as their go-to festive film and mentioned pretty much the same sentiments about why.

Kimmi “Die Hard is my favourite Christmas movie because A. IT IS A CHRISTMAS MOVIE, and B. it perfectly combines holiday cheer with EPIC action. It’s got all the Christmas elements—decorations, festive music, and a Christmas party—plus Bruce Willis kicking ass in a tank top.”

Adam – “It mixes classic Christmas moments, like “Let It Snow!” and Hans Gruber’s iconic “ho ho ho,” with an action-packed edge that makes it unique. Alan Rickman’s unforgettable portrayal of Hans Gruber is so sophisticated and menacing, and he adds some unforgettable moments to the film.”

Ken – “It doesn’t get any more festive than seeing Bruce Willis crawling around air ducts with a machine gun.”

Staying with Ken’s choices, he also selected another Christmas movie and one that’s about as opposite to Die Hard as you can get, John Favereau’s Elf starring Will Ferrell as a vertically challenged elf on an adventure in New York. Using the traditional Hollywood trope of stranger-in-a-strange town, this tinsel-laden tale places the eponymous Elf lost in New York, searching for his real father, played by James Caan and leads to a series of escapades centred around the hub-bub of the holiday season. Funny, light-hearted and at times touching, Elf has become a staple family favourite for many, including Ken, and he says that “No explanation is needed.” for why he chose this as one of his favourite festive films.”

Pete Jenkinson, Futureworks’ Lecturer and Industry Coordinator, says that Frank Capra’s 1954 classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, is the “perfect illustration of what Christmas is all about.” Starring James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has given up his personal dreams to help others in his community, his thoughts turn to suicide on Christmas Eve following an altercation. This results in the intervention of George’s guardian angel, Clarence Odbody. Dickensian in its construction and US-centric in its sentimentality, it’s a film that most US families watch during their holiday season and one that has, over the years, crossed continents to become a much-loved film for many worldwide.

Dave Cummins, BA (Hons) Music Production Lecturer chose two films as his go-to festive treats stating, “My personal favourite is the 1954 film White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. It’s not a great film, probably far too sickly sweet and soppy, to be honest, but my Dad was a massive Bing Crosby fan, so when I was young, it was a film we had to watch at Christmas – along with The Sound of Music, my Mum’s favourite! I guess both of these films remind me of Christmas in Salford, where I grew up back in the 60s – and both bring a tear to my eye when I’m watching, which I still do almost every year.

Both films feature iconic music and songs by Irving Berlin (White Christmas) and Rodgers and Hammerstein (Sound of Music)—although interestingly, the actual song “White Christmas” was first featured in the film Holiday Inn, not the film White Christmas, where it won an Oscar for best original song.”

There are not many recent Christmas films that gain the accolade of being repeatably watchable every holiday season, but 2018’s Christmas Chronicles, starring Kurt Russell as a sensational Santa Claus, has become a contemporary classic in many households.

Chosen by Richard Hellawell, Head of our School of Film, TV and Media, his rationale for choosing Christmas Chronicles is, “… it’s simple. You have the best Father Christmas and the best Elvis rolled into one with Kurt Russell. The jailhouse scene alone is worth watching this film every year.”

As you may have expected, Joe Darlington, Programme Leader BA (Hons) Digital Animation & Illustration, has selected an animated choice for his festive film. Tokyo Godfathers is a 2003 Japanese anime Christmas tragicomedy adventure film written and directed by Satoshi Kon. Featuring a middle-aged alcoholic, a teenage runaway and a former drag queen, the homeless trio survives as a makeshift family on the streets of Tokyo. While rummaging for food on Christmas Eve, they stumble upon an abandoned newborn baby and with only a handful of clues to the baby’s identity, they search the streets to help return the baby to its parents.

Joe says, “It’s a tremendously human film – funny, sad and joyful – that says beautiful things about the importance of family, but without any of the usual cliches.”

Jamie Scott, Programme Leader BA (Hons) Visual Effects, selects a suitably visual comedic feast, Richard Donner’s 1988 twist on Dicken’s tale, Scrooged, describing it as, “A retelling of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol it’s truly an ‘immortal classic’. As a huge fan of Dickens, A Christmas Carol truly captures the spirit of Christmas. As a fan of comedy, Bill Murray in particular, I really appreciate this modern take on the tale. The production balances Scrooge’s acerbic wit with holiday cheer against the backdrop of 80s corporate America. This film will put a little love in your heart this holiday season.”

Finally, we have Gary Knowles, Programme Leader BA (Hons) Independent Filmmaking. Gary’s love for eighties ephemera and horror genre movies is reflected in his festive choice, the 1984 horror comedy, Gremlins.

Gary says, “I have fond nostalgic memories of watching this film as a child, especially the carol singing scene with the electric stair lift. Additionally, I’d enjoy freaking out my younger sister by reciting the final narrator line, ‘Check the closets and cupboards, look under all the beds. Because you never can tell. There just might be a gremlin in your house.’”

Gary has an extensive collection of 1980s memorabilia, and here’s a photo of him with one of the lead Gremlins from the movie, Stripe.

Do you want to create films that provoke long-lasting emotions and are repeatably watched as timeless classics? Are you a budding Spielberg or Favereau or a future festive film screenwriter, a camera operator, a producer or just simply mad about making a career out of moviemaking?

Book an Open Day and visit Futureworks. Tour our studios in the heart of the UK film and TV Industry at Media City in Salford and discover more about our honours degree courses in independent filmmaking, visual effects, and post-production (editing). Futureworks is the UK’s leading higher education provider for people seeking a rewarding career in Film, TV, and Media. Book today and start your journey toward making your mark in the movies.