How to Develop & Produce a Holiday Movie

Learn from Steven Woolworth, accomplished producer and development executive behind hit holiday films streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, and Great American Family!

Plus, get a Downloadable Holiday Formula Cheat Sheet—your step-by-step guide to crafting the perfect festive story, from concept to production and beyond!

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 webinar is now available to watch on-demand and no longer live.

If you’ve ever dreamed of creating a film that captures the joy, heart, and magic of the holidays — while also becoming a seasonal favorite that audiences return to year after year — this webinar is for you. Holiday movies are more than just festive stories; they are one of the most reliable and beloved genres in entertainment. Networks and streaming platforms consistently seek new Christmas and holiday titles to meet the ongoing demand for cozy, feel-good content. By understanding what makes these films work creatively — and how to shape a compelling, market-ready concept — you can position yourself to craft stories that warm hearts and stand out in a crowded landscape.

Yet, producing a holiday movie isn’t as simple as adding a Christmas tree and snow. Many creatives underestimate how crucial strong concept development and tight storytelling are to the genre. Others get caught off guard by production realities like shooting “winter” scenes in the middle of summer, managing weather limitations, or maintaining morale on fast-paced sets. In this webinar, you’ll learn the creative and production fundamentals that make holiday films click — from understanding audience expectations for comfort and familiarity, to balancing romance, humor, and heartfelt moments that define the genre.

Your instructor, Steven Woolworth, brings deep experience from both the studio and production sides of the business. He began his career in film production in New York before moving into television development at Sony Pictures Television. Steven then spent years at HBO Films, contributing to acclaimed and award-winning projects such as Bad Education, The Normal Heart, Game Change, and Temple Grandin. As part of the HBO Access Writers and Directors Program, he also mentored emerging voices through the process of developing and producing original pilot presentations. After HBO, Steven joined Reel One Entertainment (later TF1 America) as an International Scripted Development Executive and Executive Producer, where he developed and produced holiday films and other TV movies from concept through production. His films have gone on to stream on major platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, The Roku Channel, and more.

In this webinar, Steven will share behind-the-scenes lessons from the holiday films he has developed and produced, highlight what truly makes a holiday movie resonate with viewers, and help you navigate common creative and production pitfalls. By the end, you’ll walk away with a practical roadmap for developing and producing a holiday movie that delivers emotional warmth, charm, and lasting audience appeal.

PLUS! You will receive:

• Downloadable Holiday Formula Cheat Sheet

Testimonials from attendees: