Director: David Lowery
A short winter fable, An Almost Christmas Story pairs a lost child with an unlikely companion on the streets of New York.
What is An Almost Christmas Story about?
A young owl finds itself far from where it belongs, disoriented in the middle of a bustling New York City during the holidays. Its path crosses with a little girl who is also separated from her family, and the two form an unspoken bond as they try to find their way back home before Christmas. Told largely without dialogue, the film leans on visual storytelling to carry its warmth, following the pair through snowy streets, crowded subway platforms, and quiet rooftop moments as the city hums around them. Running a brisk 24 minutes, it distills its themes of belonging and companionship into a handful of carefully staged scenes rather than a sprawling plot, closing on a note that feels earned rather than rushed.
Cast & crew
Cary Christopher and Estella Madrigal anchor the human side of the story as young performers carrying much of the emotional weight without heavy dialogue. Director David Lowery, known for blending tenderness with visual restraint in his features, brings that same sensibility to this shorter format, while voices including Jim Gaffigan and Natasha Lyonne round out the supporting work.
Context & significance
Produced in 2024 as a joint UK-US animated short, the film sits comfortably alongside other modern holiday shorts that favor mood and imagery over dense narrative. Its brief runtime and gentle pacing make it an easy watch for families looking for something seasonal without a long time commitment.
Where & how to watch
An Almost Christmas Story is available on K-Time with a Farsi-dubbed track, and the app's Farsi-language interface makes it simple to browse and watch for Persian-speaking households. A free K-Time account login is all that's needed to watch; reading this page requires no account at all.