
Restored to its original glory by the National Film Preservation Foundation back in 2005, this little Christmas film is one of our holiday favorites. Margaret Conneely (Chicago amateur filmmaker & CFA Collection namesake) frames stop-motion animation and trick photography with live action footage to fuel her very own Christmas fairy tale. FAIRY PRINCESS (1956) was Margaret Conneely's most successful amateur film, winning a slew of local awards, and being named one of the Photographic Society of America's 'Ten Best films of 1956.' Conneely's film was also awarded the PSA's 'Harris B. Tuttle Trophy'; named after Eastman Kodak's innovator of the 16mm format, this trophy was awarded annually for the best amateur storytelling film on a family theme. - Chicago Film Archives
5.4When a couple of burglars make off with their family's presents and decorations, the Three Dogateers set off on a journey to sniff out the bad guys and save Christmas!
7.0A developmentally challenged young man with a penchant for caring for animals in need sets out to convince his family - and their whole rural community - to participate in a local shelter's inaugural "Adopt a Dog for Christmas Program."
5.8A series of mishaps threaten a recently divorced mom's attempts to make her two kids' first Christmas "without dad" perfect.
4.8Three young boys, Rocky, Colt and Tum Tum together with their neighbor girl, computer whiz Amanda are visiting Mega Mountain amusement park when it is invaded by an army of ninjas led by evil Medusa, who wants to take over the park and hold the owners for ransom. Kids and retired TV star Dave Dragon, who made his farewell appearance at the park at the time the ninjas appeared, have to break Medusa's vicious plans.
3.1Martians fear their children have become lazy and joyless due to their newfound obsession with Earth TV shows. After ancient Martian leader Chochem suggests that the children of Mars need more fun—including their own Santa Claus—supreme leader Lord Kimar assembles an expedition to Earth. Once there, they kidnap two children who lead them to the North Pole, then capture the real Santa Claus, taking all three back to Mars in an attempt to bring the Martian children happiness.
6.0The Mascot serenades a lady dog. Another dog that listened and liked the song, wants to imprison Mascot so that he sings in his house.
4.5After moving into a new house with his mom and soon to be father, Lawrence goes through some things. Six months after his mom and new "dad" marry. His mother dies. It isn't easy on Maise's Husband. He soon realizes that he could not deal with Lawrence and goes to a foster home to see if he can put him there. Lawrence has to stay for a few more days before he can leave. Over those days the husband realizes that Lawrence is a great kid.
2.0A young boy discovers on Christmas Eve that he can hear the beautiful voice of the angel residing atop his Christmas tree. Through the angel's song, the boy learns the value of his faith, and passes it on to the rest of his family.
4.3When a sleigh bell mysteriously falls from the sky, pure-hearted Princess Crystal is determined to prove it came from one of Santa's reindeer.
5.9When inventor/efficiency expert Alexander Graham Wolf plots to take over Santa's workshop, Comet asks for help from Raggedy Ann, Andy and their dog, Raggedy Arthur.
6.0Four children have received an invitation to meet Santa Claus. They end up in a mystical Christmasland, where they find out that Santa Claus has disappeared! Will the children manage to find Santa in time and will Christmas be saved?
6.0Northpole, the magical city where Santa and his elves live and work is in trouble. Families around the globe have gotten too busy to enjoy the season together, and Northpole depends on their holiday happiness to keep running. In the hopes of turning things around, a determined young elf befriends a little boy with a lot of spirit. His skeptical journalist mom doesn’t have room in her heart for anything but the facts, so it’s going to take a little nudge from his charming teacher to create an unbeatable Christmas team to turn around this town and share the importance of the season with the whole world.
5.3Corrine's holiday season gets an unexpected dose of romance when she meets the mysterious Harold, who is on a deadline from a higher power to help Corrine find her true love by Christmas Eve. As the clock ticks down to Harold's deadline, Corrine must decide if she will open up to Christmas love.
6.7A young working girl with a blue-collar background is surprised when her new fiancé announces he is actually a prince of a small sovereign country in Europe. After the couple quickly takes off to spend the holidays at his family’s sprawling, royal castle, she must work hard to win over her disapproving and unaccepting future mother-in-law—the Queen—and find out if love truly can conquer all.
5.4Heavenly angel Harry Mills is sent to Earth on a trial assignment to intervene in the life of a woman who needs help getting her life on track after the death of her father. With a deadline of Christmas day, he attempts to help her heal in order to embrace a new future, and an unexpected love, just in time to celebrate the miracle of the holiday season.
5.5With Christmas approaching, a struggling single mom finds herself working as a department store Santa Claus, as a real-life angel delivers good fortune and the possibility of holiday romance.
5.2A popular network morning host finds herself humiliated on the air by her fiancé and disappears to a small town. While there, she helps a budding artist save a community art center for the town's kids, by helping them with their float for the annual Christmas Parade.
0.0It's Christmas Eve in big city Chicago, and vigilante cop Nils Scroogesen is in no mood to celebrate -- and you can take that to the bank.
