A Miracle for Christmas

A few days before Christmas, the Brennan family, Bob, Kasey, and their two sons, Anthony who is severely disabled, and Chris, a bright-eyed twelve-year-old, learn they are facing foreclosure of their farm on January 2nd. Chris takes it upon himself to fix the foreclosure with the help of his friend, Hope. Hope was once a successful Vice-president of Oil Exploration who is now homeless after making a bad call that bankrupted a billion-dollar company. Meanwhile, Thomas, a gourmet chef, and his wife Amara are days away from bankrupting their café. Faith is the key to connect these people and Hope is the glue that brings them together. Are prayers and faith enough to bring a miracle by Christmas?

LOGLINE
Ten days before Christmas, the Brennan family learns they will lose their farm on January 2nd. Thomas and Amara are days away from bankrupting their café and Hope, who is an older homeless woman, is believing for a home. Are prayers and faith enough to bring a miracle by Christmas?

  • Shelley Chester
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Screenplay
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Number of Pages:
    119
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • WINNER - Beyond Entertainment Family Film Festival
    Cape Coral, FL
    October 12, 2024
    WINNER - Drama Family Feature Screenplay
  • FINALIST - Branson International Film Festival
    Branson, MO
    June 6, 2024
    Finalist Best Script
  • FINALIST - Winnipeg Real to Reel Film Festival
    Winnipeg, Manitoba
    February 20, 2024
    Finalist Feature Screenplay
  • FINALIST - Everything Holiday Film Festival
    Panama City Beach, FL
    September 12, 2024
    Finalist - Holiday Screenplay Feature Length
  • FINALIST - New York International Film Awards
    NY
    August 2, 2023
    Finalist Screenplay
  • SEMI-FINALIST Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards
    Beverly Hills, CA
    June 6, 2024
    Semi-Finalist Feature
  • SEMI-FINALIST - Sunlight International Film Festival
    Berlin Germany
    October 20, 2023
    SEMI-FINALIST Best SCREENPLAY
  • QUARTER-FINALIST - Faith in Film: International Film Festival and Screenwriting Competition
    Tucson, AZ
    May 18, 2024
    QUARTER-FINALIST Best Screenplay
  • WINNER - THE NEIL SIMON FESTIVAL NEW PLAY AWARD
    Heritage Theatre, Utah
    July 17, 2019
    Best Play - I LEFT MY DIGNITY IN MY OTHER PURSE
  • WINNER - The Robert J. Pickering / J.R. Colbeck Award for Playwriting Excellence
    Tibbits Opera House, MI
    May 5, 2022
    Best Play - THE MARRIAGE PICKLE: UNTYING THE NOT
  • FINALIST – THEATRE VICTORIA (withdrawn due to winning The Neil Simon Award.)
    Texas
    I LEFT MY DIGNITY IN MY OTHER PURSE
  • FINALIST – VINTAGE THEATRE FESTIVAL
    Denver, CO
    FINALIST – I LEFT MY DIGNITY IN MY OTHER PURSE
  • FINALIST – MCLAREN MEMORIAL COMEDY PLAYWRIGHT COMPETITION
    Midland, TX
    FINALIST - I LEFT MY DIGNITY IN MY OTHER PURSE
  • FINALIST – NEW WORKS OF MERIT
    New York
    FINALIST - LIFE AIN’T FAIR
  • FINALIST – THE PHOENIX THEATRE 25th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW AMERICAN THEATRE COMPOSER AND LYRICIST CABARET
    Phoenix, AZ
    FINALIST - Lyrics
  • SEMI-FINALIST – WOMEN ARE FUNNY
    Spokane, WA
    SEMI-FINALIST - THE MARRIAGE PICKLE: UNTYING THE NOT
  • SEMI-FINALIST – AACT NEWPLAYFEST (withdrawn due to winning The Neil Simon Award.)
    National
    SEMI-FINALIST - I LEFT MY DIGNITY IN MY OTHER PURSE
  • RUNNER-UP – ROBERT J. PICKERING AWARD
    Tibbits Opera House, MI
    RUNNER-UP - I LEFT MY DIGNITY IN MY OTHER PURSE
Writer Biography - Shelley Chester

Shelley is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas with majors in playwriting and acting. Upon graduation, she became a member of Denver’s Comedy Connection, an Improv troupe where she performed and wrote sketch comedies over a three-year period. She taught acting at A.C.T. Studio and owned an acting workshop - Actors for Actors. Her Neil Simon Award-winning play, I LEFT MY DIGNITY IN MY OTHER PURSE, has been performed at the Neil Simon Festival in Utah featuring Clarence Gilyard as Roy, In New Jersey starring the ever-funny Joyce DeWitt as Ruth, and has been enjoyed in Texas, and Iowa. THE MARRIAGE PICKLE: UNTYING THE NOT received the coveted Robert J. Pickering / J.R. Colbeck Award for Playwriting Excellence and was produced at the historic Tibbits Opera House in Michigan. Shelley’s awards include 2018 FINALIST – THEATRE VICTORIA, 2018 FINALIST – VINTAGE THEATRE FESTIVAL, 2018 FINALIST – MCLAREN MEMORIAL COMEDY PLAYWRIGHT COMPETITION, 2018 FINALIST – NEW WORKS OF MERIT, 2018 SEMI-FINALIST – AACT, 2020 SEMI-FINALIST – WOMEN ARE FUNNY. 2018 RUNNER-UP – ROBERT J. PICKERING AWARD.

To date, Shelley has written eleven full-length plays and two musicals. She has written an award-finalist screenplay entitled A MIRACLE FOR CHRISTMAS, a heartwarming film that brings back the true meaning of CHRISTmas. Her newest screenplay, SECRET IN THE TRIANGLE, solves the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle – ET style. She is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild. Writing for women, especially those over 60, is her passion!

Add Writer Biography
Writer Statement

I am an award-winning female playwright and screenwriter of a certain age. My goal has been to provide plays and films for all the brilliant, seasoned women forgotten by Hollywood. Have you asked yourself, “Where are all the roles for great actresses that have reached the age of dismissal? Where are all the stories that prove women are still a vital commodity?”

I have written to date eleven full-length plays, two musicals, and a full-length movie dealing with women over sixty who continue to contribute to society in their special way. Women who are strong, fun, and active; as opposed to women relegated to a line or two and then back in the rocking chair where they reside for the rest of the piece.
I love showcasing women, proving that they are a viable, able-bodied force that needs to be recognized! I hope you enjoy the read!