In this episode of The Greenlight Report, we head to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where Christmas is already in full swing — in the middle of summer.

While most of North America is enjoying July sunshine, production crews are racing to shoot heartwarming holiday movies that will air in just a few months. We break down the fast-moving production of The Christmas Gift List, a new faith-and-family MOW from Evoke Entertainment for Great American Media, currently greenlit and scheduled to shoot July 13–28, 2026.

Discover how strict Manitoba residency requirements for actors, combined with the ACTRA New Media discount, are helping productions access valuable provincial tax incentives while keeping budgets lean. We also examine the smart back-to-back strategy Evoke is using — overlapping this project with Christmas Yes List — to maximize local crew, locations, and resources in one of Canada’s most efficient filming hubs.

If you’ve ever wondered how holiday content gets made on such tight timelines and tight margins, this episode reveals the real playbook behind the greenlight.

Perfect for producers, filmmakers, and anyone curious about how regional incentives and clustered scheduling keep Christmas movies coming year after year.

Listen now and learn why Winnipeg has become a surprising summer hotspot for holiday hits.