{"id":13433,"date":"2026-10-15T04:18:17","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T08:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/?p=13433"},"modified":"2026-10-15T04:18:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T08:18:17","slug":"faith-and-the-christmas-star-pviff-2026-finalist-13433-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/faith-and-the-christmas-star-pviff-2026-finalist-13433-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Faith and The Christmas Star Brings Holiday Hope to PVIFF"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Some of the most meaningful stories are told through the smallest gestures.<\/p>\n

That sentiment shapes Faith and The Christmas Star<\/em>, a 19-minute, 34-second animated holiday film directed and produced by Anne Trenning that has been named an official finalist for the 2026 Peachtree Village International Film Festival<\/a> (PVIFF).<\/p>\n

Featuring Miranda Lial and Hannah Alyea, the film follows a young girl whose simple errand through snow-covered streets becomes an unexpected journey of kindness and human connection.<\/p>\n

The production joins this year’s PVIFF finalist lineup ahead of the festival’s Nov. 5-8 gathering in Atlanta, introducing audiences to a gentle holiday story that emphasizes compassion, generosity and the emotional power of visual storytelling.<\/p>\n

A Christmas Journey Built Around Kindness<\/h2>\n

At the center of Faith and The Christmas Star<\/em> is a young girl traveling through a peaceful winter landscape.<\/p>\n

What begins as an ordinary errand gradually becomes something more meaningful as her journey reveals opportunities for connection and acts of kindness.<\/p>\n

Set against snowy streets and the familiar atmosphere of the Christmas season, the story explores how seemingly modest interactions can carry significance far beyond the moment in which they occur.<\/p>\n

The film’s premise draws on the emotional qualities associated with traditional holiday storytelling, placing compassion and generosity at the heart of its narrative.<\/p>\n

Rather than building its appeal around elaborate conflicts or dramatic spectacle, Faith and The Christmas Star<\/em> invites viewers into a quieter world where everyday experiences can reveal something meaningful about the relationships people share.<\/p>\n

Its central message emphasizes the value of recognizing others, extending kindness and appreciating the connections that often emerge unexpectedly.<\/p>\n

Visual Storytelling With a Musical Sensibility<\/h2>\n

One of the film’s distinguishing creative elements is its approach to storytelling through imagery and musical structure.<\/p>\n

Described as unfolding with the qualities of a musical suite, Faith and The Christmas Star<\/em> uses visual storytelling to establish an atmosphere in which quieter moments carry much of the emotional expression.<\/p>\n

The approach places particular importance on mood, pacing and the relationship between visual movement and the unfolding narrative.<\/p>\n

For family audiences, that creative direction offers an alternative to more dialogue-driven holiday entertainment, allowing the themes of compassion and generosity to emerge through the experience of the story.<\/p>\n

The film’s animation also provides a setting in which winter imagery, movement and emotional expression can work together to reinforce its central themes.<\/p>\n

Meet the Creative Team<\/h2>\n

Anne Trenning serves as both director and producer of Faith and The Christmas Star<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The film features Miranda Lial and Hannah Alyea, with Alyea contributing voice acting to the animated production.<\/p>\n

With a runtime of 19 minutes and 34 seconds, the film presents a self-contained holiday story centered on kindness, human connection and the spirit of giving.<\/p>\n

Its selection as a PVIFF finalist places the project among the independent productions recognized for the festival’s 2026 competition.<\/p>\n

PVIFF Finalists Compete Through Judging and Audience Engagement<\/h2>\n

The 2026 Peachtree Village International Film Festival is incorporating professional judging and audience participation into its finalist evaluation process.<\/p>\n

Under the festival’s announced scoring structure, 70% of each finalist’s overall competition score will come from evaluations by judges representing PVIFF and JaroGO<\/a>. The remaining 30% will be determined by audience engagement through the JaroGO streaming platform.<\/p>\n

Participating finalist films will be available on JaroGO during a limited competition viewing period, allowing audiences to watch, rate and comment on the selected productions.<\/p>\n

The initiative is designed to provide independent filmmakers with additional visibility while extending the festival experience beyond traditional theatrical screenings.<\/p>\n

JaroGO is available on iOS and Android in the United States and Canada.<\/p>\n

About the 2026 Peachtree Village International Film Festival<\/h2>\n

Founded in 2005, the Peachtree Village International Film Festival has developed into a platform connecting independent filmmakers, actors, producers, writers and entertainment professionals with audiences and industry opportunities.<\/p>\n

Operating under its guiding philosophy, “It Takes a Village,” PVIFF combines film screenings and awards with professional development opportunities, industry panels, masterclasses and networking experiences.<\/p>\n

The 2026 festival will take place Nov. 5-8 in Atlanta, Georgia, continuing its commitment to supporting independent voices and expanding access within the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n

Faith and The Christmas Star<\/em> enters this year’s competition as an official finalist, with award results to be determined through the festival’s judging and audience-engagement process.<\/p>\n

For additional information about PVIFF 2026, visit https:\/\/www.pviffatl.com\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Film at a Glance<\/h2>\n

\"Official<\/p>\n

Title:<\/strong> Faith and The Christmas Star (2026)<\/p>\n

Director:<\/strong> Anne Trenning<\/p>\n

Producer:<\/strong> Anne Trenning<\/p>\n

Cast:<\/strong> Miranda Lial, Hannah Alyea<\/p>\n

Runtime:<\/strong> 19 minutes, 34 seconds<\/p>\n

Genre:<\/strong> Animated Holiday Film<\/p>\n

Festival Status:<\/strong> Official Finalist \u2014 PVIFF 2026<\/p>\n

Festival Dates:<\/strong> Nov. 5-8, 2026<\/p>\n

Festival Location:<\/strong> Atlanta, Georgia<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Directed by Anne Trenning, the animated Christmas short follows a young girl’s journey through snowy streets in a story celebrating generosity and the holiday spirit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":13435,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[1816,1815,1814,1817,1795],"class_list":["post-13433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-film-tv","tag-animated-christmas-film","tag-anne-trenning","tag-faith-and-the-christmas-star","tag-hannah-alyea","tag-pviff-2026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13433"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13433\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13437,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13433\/revisions\/13437"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.watchjaro.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}