No Christmas This Year

This French Existentialist film about Christmas and COVID examines the zeitgeist of 2020. Will Santa adapt to the new Noel?

  • Sara Sierschula
    Director
  • Sara Sierschula
    Writer
  • Andrew Breslin
    Writer
  • Sara Sierschula
    Producer
  • Andrew Breslin
    Producer
  • Sara Sierschula
    Film Editor
  • Line El Dirini
    Key Cast
    "Narrator"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Pas de Noël cette Année
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, drama
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes 24 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 11, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    292 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, French
  • Shooting Format:
    digital (phone)
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Weihnachtsfilmfestival (Christmas Film Festival)
    Berlin
    Germany
    December 20, 2025
    European Premier
    Official Selection
  • Yule Film Fest
    Online
    United States
    December 19, 2021
    American Premier
    Official Selection
  • More Than A Film Fest
    Philadelphia
    United States
    May 16, 2026
    Honorable Mention
  • Art Film Awards

    Best Quarantine Film (August 2021)
  • Prague International Monthly Film Festival

    Finalist: Mobile Phone Film (Feb 2021)
  • Stockholm City Film Festival

    Semi-Finalist: COVID19 Film (Feb 2021)
Director Biography - Sara Sierschula

Sara Sierschula is an accidental filmmaker and director based in Philadelphia, PA. Her background is in the world of non-profits, helping to bridge the gaps in benefit access for important health and welfare programs. She is the co-founder of the Benefit Decision Toolkit, a Code for Philly volunteer civic tech project.

The boredom of the COVID pandemic spurred her interest in filmmaking, as a way to pass the time and to document the history happening around her.

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Director Statement

2020 thrust upon all of us changes we never anticipated or imagined. We learned how to do Zoom meetings, home-schooling, and to cut our own hair. The pandemic forced us to take on new roles and learn new skills.

What started as part of an annual prank, stealing a friend's Christmas decoration, turned into something much more. On the fly we learned how to make a film. Much like 2020 itself, it was messy and new to us but we figured it out.