# Our 7th annual Winnipeg Hallmark \(and more\!\) locally shot movie guide \- Winnipeg

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**Last Updated:** 2026-11-05T18:49:46+00:00

**Summary:** Learn about some local talent in this season’s Hallmark features from the director before you play spot that Winnipeg location.

We’ve been making Winnipeg-shot Hallmark movie guides for so long that we used to tell people to [set their PVRs (opens in new window)](https://www.tourismwinnipeg.com/things-to-do/only-in-the-peg/read,post/1314/our-annual-winnipeg-hallmark-and-lifetime-christmas-movie-guide).

 Heck, we love these films so hard that we wrote and had Handcraft Creative produce a Hallmark-inspired trailer called *Hollywood Comes Home for Christmas™* (great title, I know), that you can watch on our [Winnipeg+ (opens in new window)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFe8G4LimQ4&t=37s) business events streaming service.

 In other words, it’s now our favourite time of the festive season, which in true Hallmark “[Countdown to Christmas](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/christmas/movie-guide-countdown-to-christmas-2025)” fashion started in –– checks notes –– October!

 With plots more approachable than a boozy coffee on Christmas morning –– often featuring couples coming together despite mild obstacles, sage advice from wily widows, and star power that has previously brought the likes of Teri Hatcher, Rachael Leigh Cook, Dermot Mulroney, and even Taylor Swift’s future mother-in-law, [Donna Kelce (opens in new window)](https://www.tourismwinnipeg.com/things-to-do/only-in-the-peg/read,post/1615/2024-winnipeg-hallmark-movie-guide) to the city(!) –– these films will surely get you in the spirit of things.

 Below you’ll find all the latest wholesome holiday features shot in Winnipeg, which we lovingly refer to as “a hallmark location for Hallmark films.”

 In fact, we asked director [Jeff Beesley (opens in new window)](https://www.jeffbeesleydirector.com/), who has shot [so many Hallmark films (opens in new window)](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0066580/), including the ones below, how that is:

 “One of the reasons that Winnipeg is a hot spot for film production is the uniqueness of its locations,” said Beesly. “The Exchange District is a visual creative gift to the world as it doubles beautifully as New York, Chicago and even certain European cities. This area of the city must be preserved and cared for as it remains our secret weapon!”

 Plus, Hallmark films that are shot here always garner great ratings according to the director, while also introducing Winnipeg-based actors to a larger audience.

 “The Hallmark movies that have been produced out of Winnipeg have performed very well on the network –– our movies consistently land in the top three!” said Beesley, while adding that recent “movies like *The Santa Summit* have created Hallmark stars out of local actors like Amy Groening, Stephanie Sy and Adam Hurtig.”

## Wholesome for the holidays 

 ***A Suite Holiday Romance*** – Hallmark – [Premieres December 13 (opens in new window)](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/a-suite-holiday-romance) (Directed by Jeff Beesley)

 Originally slated to be called  *A Magical New York Christmas*, much of this film was indeed shot on Broadway –– that being Winnipeg’s Broadway, in particular the Fort Garry Hotel, which is a star of this production! In fact, one of the film’s other stars, Al Sapeinza (of *The Sopranos* fame) was so taken by his stay at the hotel during production in spring that he returned to the hotel this autumn to [play a sold-out set (opens in new window)](https://www.instagram.com/p/DPL6K9NAJIp/) in its famed Provencher Room!

 The plot is [centred around (opens in new window)](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/a-suite-holiday-romance/about-a-suite-holiday-romance) a stay at New York’s Grand Fairbanks Hotel where, “It’s Christmas week when Sabrina Post \[played by [Jesse Schram (opens in new window)](https://www.instagram.com/jschramer/?hl=en)\] arrives… ready to accept the ghostwriting position for the memoir of Grayson Westcott – a famous art dealer.” But get this: “What promises to be a perfect week is complicated when Sabrina meets Ian Turner \[played by [Dominic Sherwood (opens in new window)](https://www.instagram.com/domsherwood/?hl=en)\], a handsome British visitor, at the hotel bar. When Ian assumes Sabrina is another wealthy guest at the hotel, she doesn’t correct him – a decision she doesn’t regret after learning that Ian is a member of the British aristocracy. Or so she thinks.”

 As to that set, The Fort Garry Hotel’s director of marketing Maria Cefali was telling me, “this was possibly the only time that Hallmark took over during the day, in our lobby. Set up took place before Easter weekend and needless to say, our Easter Brunch guests were pleasantly surprised to see it decorated for Christmas when they arrived with their families all decked out for the Easter Bunny.”

 “But, so many guests were confused when their Uber dropped them off at The Grand Fairbanks Hotel!” continued Cefali. “One was heard saying, “This isn’t the right hotel. I need to go to The Fort Garry Hotel, not the Fairbanks Hotel!”

 How great is that!

 For Beesley, “ *A Suite Holiday Romance* is one of my favourite movies because of its beauty,” said the director. “The Fort Garry staff was amazing in welcoming us and the movie is very much a visual love letter to one of the most iconic hotels in Canada. And yes, the art department nailed it in mainlining the grandeur of the hotel while putting on a magical New York spin.”

 As you can see in the [production photos (opens in new window)](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/a-suite-holiday-romance/photos/photos-from-a-suite-holiday-romance/**), so many areas of the hotel were also used, like the iconic Crystal Ballroom (where I’m told an amazing dance sequence is shot) and the Oval Room.

 “I can’t tell you the amount of times I have been wining or dining in the Oval Room dreaming of the day I could shoot it in all of her glory,” said Beesley. “It was a dream come true to shoot multiple scenes, both day and night, in one of Winnipeg’s most iconic rooms. Rumour has it that one night after shooting locals in the Oval Room were treated to a spirited night cap by one of our stars, Dominic Sherwood.”

 For local actors, Adam Hurtig (also in *The Long Walk* and *Nobody 2*, which will discuss in our follow up film guide next week) looks dapper in a Prince of Wales check suit –– perhaps he’s the real aristocrat(!), while more local talent in the film includes [Lauren Cochrane (opens in new window)](https://www.instagram.com/its_me_laurencochrane/?hl=en) (also in *Normal*, covered in our follow up guide, along with so many other films) and Susan Loewen, a Hallmark regular.

 ***The Snow Must Go On*** – Hallmark – Premieres November 28 (Directed by Jeff Beesley)

 Filmed in June, which locals will confirm was a hot one, *The Snow Must Go On* required some additional Hallmark magic for the city to stand in as New York City, and even more so for Upstate New York in late December.

 “We have some of the best practical effect artists in the world right here in Winnipeg,” said director Beesley. “[Davin MacRae (opens in new window)](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9477185/) and his team bring the Christmas magic even when the mercury outside is soaring! They use a variety of techniques ranging from snow blankets, snow machines, foam machines and even fish-ice for the closer shots – yes, the same ice supermarkets display their fish on!”

 (As you’ll see on his IMDb, MacRae, too, has done so many Hallmark films, along with features like *Tron: Ares*, and movies we’ll cover in this article’s follow up like *Silent Night, Deadly Night, The Long Walk and Normal.*)

 Plenty of that fake snow fell on the streets of the Exchange District, where much of *The Snow Must Go On* was filmed, with the plot centering around, “A former Broadway star” who “agrees to direct his niece’s high school Christmas musical in the hopes of impressing an influential Broadway producer.”

 Will a star be born? According to Beesley, one will indeed, and it very well could be Winnipeg’s own [Kaelyn Yoon-MacRae (opens in new window)](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12219067/?ref_=tt_cst_t_9) (whom you may also recognize from the Winnipeg-produced series [*Burden of Truth* (opens in new window)](https://www.tourismwinnipeg.com/things-to-do/only-in-the-peg/read,post/833/tv-stars-share-their-favourite-winnipeg-landmarks); which was also [set in Winnipeg (opens in new window)](https://www.tourismwinnipeg.com/eat-and-drink/peg-city-grub/read,post/836/burden-of-truth-s-creative-team-on-their-favourite-winnipeg-eateries?dismiss=month), along with some outstanding performances at Rainbow Stage) who plays Aurora in the film.

 “We are constantly looking for new talent to showcase in our movies, and this movie is going to introduce to the world a brilliant young actor, Kaelyn Yoon-MaCrae,” said Beesley. “She plays the third lead in the movie and beat out an impressive lineup of national talent to win the part. She is wonderful in the movie and hopefully the *SMGO* will be a launching pad for her.”

 More local actors including Stephanie Sy (who was all over [our 2023 (opens in new window)](https://www.tourismwinnipeg.com/things-to-do/only-in-the-peg/read,post/1532/our-2023-winnipeg-hallmark-countdown-to-christmas-movie-guide) and [2024 (opens in new window)](https://www.tourismwinnipeg.com/things-to-do/only-in-the-peg/read,post/1615/2024-winnipeg-hallmark-movie-guide) guides), and Rodrigo Beilfuss, who too was found throughout last our 2023 guide along with being the artistic director or Shakespeare in the Ruins. The film stars Hearther Hemmens and Corey Cott.

## What’s filming right now 

 There is currently one Hallmark title being filmed in the city, *Finding My Connection,* set to be released in June 2026. Also look out for children’s feature (not by Hallmark) *Emerald Inn*, featuring local actors Reena Jolly, Angela Narth, Alec Carlos, Andrea del Campo and more. It is currently in post-production to be released by local company [JadeRose (opens in new window)](https://jaderosefilm.tv/).

 Right now (or starting production right away) in Winnipeg there are also several features and series being shot. This includes feature film *Sticks and Stones*, a curling movie based on Olympic US curler John Shuster; *Ancestral Beasts* by local company Buffalo Gal Productions, written and directed by local Métis filmmaker Tim Riedel; and *Coppermine* –– a feature film with [so many (opens in new window)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32273094/) local actors.

 And of course, the city is abuzz with Jon Hamm being here (the reception when he was on the Jumbotron at Jets games was pronounced to say the least) to film *Shortwave*, a Sony TV series that’s an adaptation of the 2022 podcast *American Hostage* (the internet says the show is called *American Hostage*, but the crew’s lanyards say otherwise). In fact, as we type this, Mr. Hamm is right behind us filming within the [Millennium Centre (opens in new window)](https://themillenniumcentre.ca/).

## Great American Family productions 

 Great American Family features plots that centre around Christian themes.

 Both films below were directed by Nicholas Humphries, whose Instagram shows [so much love for Winnipeg](https://www.instagram.com/p/DNsV3GN3ACt/) where he filmed these features this summer. As you can see, this guy knows how to do Winnipeg right, with visits to spots like Crumb Queen, The Cube Stage, The Golf Dome, concerts at The Fort Garry Hotel’s Club Room and Blue Note Park, Rae’s Bistro + Lounge (that place is so underrated), and so many more.

 Nic, come back anytime!

 ***Christmas in Midnight Clear*** – Premiered November 1.

 This romance premiered on November 1 (find where it’s [streaming here](https://www.greatamericanfamily.com/movie/christmas-in-midnight-clear/)) and it features the classic plot of a corporate real estate developer named Hilary Shaw (played by Dea Josipovic) coming up against the local pastor, Daniel Porter (played by Jon McLean), when she looks to completely overhaul a small town. The church that Pastor Porter oversees –– which Shaw is attempting to purchase! –– is the beautiful St. Jean Baptiste Roman Catholic Church, with its iconic tranquil blue roof, in the Rural Municipality of Montcalm.

 

 As locals will note in the trailer, some scenes also utilize the Trappist Monastery Ruins ( *100 Ruines du Monastere*, Winnipeg) where filming took place in August. We can also verify this location by creeping further on director Humphries’ [Instagram (opens in new window)](https://www.instagram.com/p/DNUo2KysjNj/). Like all good directors and people in general, Humphries became a big fan of having [brunch at Clementine (opens in new window)](https://www.instagram.com/p/DNgcFOxx96a/), which shows up in his feed (pun intended) multiple times!

 *Christmas in Midnight Clear* features local actors like Samantha Kendrick and Michael Strickland too.

 ***A Christmas Prayer*** (formerly *A Christmas List of Blessings*) – Premiered October 18

 This one is about a children’s book author and illustrator, who stumbles upon some unlikely inspiration after she finds a little girl’s Christmas wish list. Those wishes, instead of being materialistic as one would expect, are instead prayers to assist members in her community.

 This selfless child, Caroline, is played by Winnipeg’s own Madeline Cox, who the author, Natalie (played by Shae Robins), begins to secretly fulfill the wishes of while creating the character Adeline the Angel.

 

 There of course must be romance too. So let us introduce Caroline’s dad, played by Christopher Russell, who provides the sort of [handsomeness (opens in new window)](https://www.instagram.com/chrisrussellofficial/?hl=en)that would hark the herald angels to sing about.

 For local actors, you can also look out for Fay Kelman and [Derek Kun (opens in new window)](https://www.instagram.com/p/C8msq5egWKW/?hl=en) (both of whom are in our follow guide, along with Cox, via films like *Nobody 2* and *Silent Night, Deadly Night*). For locations, alongside a tree farm featuring some fake snow, locals will note scenes shot in St. Ignatius Parish Church (*255 Stafford Street*).