Entertainment
Christmas movie production reaches new record
Settling down in front of feel-good festive movies has become a modern Christmas tradition – and has driven the production of seasonal films to record-breaking levels this year.
More than 200 new feature films and TV movies with the word Christmas in the title are listed on the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) for release in 2021.
That number has doubled since 2016 and is four times more than in 2011.
Channels and streamers have discovered festive films are big ratings winners.
Christmas movies have been popular for decades, and classics like Home Alone, Love Actually and It’s A Wonderful Life will be widely watched again in the coming weeks.
But the boom in a new breed of festive films can be traced back to the Hallmark US cable channel’s decision to launch a special season of TV movies in 2009.
Its first Countdown To Christmas featured four original productions and delivered record audiences.
This year, its countdown started even earlier, on 22 October, and includes a record 42 original holiday films.
Boyfriends Of Christmas Past is one of Hallmark’s 42 original festive films this year
“They bet really big on Christmas and everyone else seemed to notice the ratings,” says Brandon Gray, co-host of the Deck the Hallmark podcast and one of the authors of a new book called I’ll Be Home for Christmas Movies.
Rival channel Lifetime was among those to take notice and has made 35 of its own Christmas crowd-pleasers this year, also its highest number yet.
Streaming platforms are tapping into the seasonal demand too, with Netflix offering a dozen original films starring big names like John Cleese, Kelsey Grammar and Brooke Shields.
The IMDB numbers only include movies with “Christmas” in the title, meaning the true number of festive films is even higher.
This season’s big cinema releases include Silent Night, starring Keira Knightley, and Aml Ameen’s Boxing Day, which also stars Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
When it comes to made-for-TV movies, many are relatively low-budget and use a feel-good formula to tell stories of romance and family – and are cosy and comforting enough to cancel out being corny and cheesy.
“It’s this magical season when the storyline that’s on the screen doesn’t matter as long as there’s a bunch of Christmas trees in the background and it’s snowing,” says Gray.
“For viewers, it’s just a way to escape and to feel for at least two hours this little bit of peace in the midst of the craziness of the holiday season and the craziness of the world in which we have lived in the last couple years.”
Successful formula
Hallmark built its festive empire on films that look and feel the same, Gray says.
“They have the same aesthetic because they figured out what works: ‘If we keep everything basically uniform – not too funny, not too sad – people will go from one movie to the next.’
“So you have the two people that fall in love and there’s some sort of misunderstanding with about 30 minutes to go and then they’ll figure it out, and they’ll kiss.
“And you do it over and over again, and as long as it looks uniform and feels uniform, people will watch one after the other.”
This year is the best crop of films so far, Gray says – partly because channels like Hallmark are beginning to experiment with that formula.
“Especially this year, I feel the change, where they’re putting more emphasis on different types of stories,” he says. “They’re working hard with inclusion and making sure that the stories that are being told match what you’re seeing on the screen.
“So it’s no longer them just putting a person of colour on screen in a white world, but they’re actually telling stories that feel authentic to who you’re watching on screen.”
In the UK, some of those TV movies have been playing on the Great! Movies Christmas channel since 23 September, and on Channel 5 in the daytimes since early November.
Source: graphic.com.gh
The National Theatre is set to host Fundworld, a dynamic entertainment and educational program, on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 1:00 pm.
The event celebrates World Radio Day and International Day of Friendship, themes that resonate with international celebrations.
The event aims to unearth many talents in young people, aligning with the theatre’s mandate to nurture children’s talents and prepare them for future opportunities.
Funworld is one of the National Theatre’s flagship programmes for basic schools, enabling pupils to create their own performances and present them on stage.
It’s a platform for schools to showcase their talents. Past editions have thrilled a lot of children with edutainment including poetry recital, dance choreography, rap music, drama performances, and this February edition promises to be more exciting and dramatic.
The Funworld programme takes place on every 3rd Sunday of February, March, May, June, and October.
The National Theatre invites schools, parents, and educators to participate in Funworld, a vibrant celebration of Ghanaian culture and creativity.
The event takes place at the National Theatre Main Auditorium, and tickets are priced at GHc 10.00.
The National Theatre also has a flurry of programmes in its first quarter, including ‘Wednesday Theatre’ on the last Wednesday of every month and ‘Thursday Movie’ on the last Thursday of every month.
Gospel minister Mavis Payne has released a spirit-filled worship song of thanksgiving to God dubbed ADEAKYE.
With ADEAKYE, Mavis Payne tells her story of how merciful the Lord has been and encourages people to give thanks to God even for the little blessings.
Recorded live at Eden Experience 2025 and released on Friday, February 6, 2026, the song tells a story of her early discovery, consistent growth, and unshaken devotion.
She further describes the song as the sound of a woman who has walked with her gift, nurtured it, and ultimately offered it back to God.
According to Mavis Payne, music has never been a hobby but rather a calling, patiently unfolding since childhood.
ADEAKYE, the first track on the live recording, is currently streaming on YouTube Mavis Payne Ministries. It is the latest expression of a journey that began long before studios, stages, or spotlights, she intimated.
Growing up, Mavis Payne discovered her gift at a remarkably young age. She recalls being promoted to Class Two after nursery when a simple lunchtime moment changed everything.
As she sang casually, she said her class teacher stopped to listen. Impressed, the teacher led her before other classes and asked her to sing again this time, for an audience. That moment of affirmation lit a fire that has never gone out.
With that early encouragement, music became inseparable from her identity.
However, she expressed gratitude to family and friends who rallied around her talent, offering support that helped shape both her confidence and discipline.
Over the years, Mavis Payne sharpened her craft by backing several artistes and performing on notable platforms, including TV3’s Mentor, one of Ghana’s most influential music talent shows.
According to her, she has also worked with respected musicians such as Ackah Blay, experiences that broadened her musical range and professionalism.
Yet, despite these opportunities in the wider music industry, her focus has remained unwavering.
“My heart has always been to minister for God,” she says.
That focus has guided her path from Sunday school to the present day, shaping not just what she sings, but why she sings.
“ADEAKYE” emerges from this deep-rooted sense of purpose. The song is not merely a release; it is a continuation of a lifelong ministry one anchored in faith, gratitude, and obedience to God’s call.
ADEAKYE is a worship programme Mavis Payne herself is nurturing an intentional space for encounter, intimacy, and authentic praise. The live recording preserves the rawness of the moment: the unfiltered worship, the communal spirit, and the sacred atmosphere that cannot be replicated in a studio.
She noted that it is her declaration of hope, renewal, and God’s faithfulness in every situation, emphasising once you witness a new day, rest assured at hope is not lost.
“I thank God for my life and the gift of ministering through singing to win souls for Christ. And to everyone supporting my ministry, may God make His face shine upon you favourably,” she remarked.
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