Naman Shrestha
Co-written and directed by Robin Dunne, Great American Family’s ‘A Very Arctic Christmas’ is a holiday romantic movie that centers on the adventures of a father-daughter duo — single dad Jim and 20-year-old Isla. Jim is a broadcaster and former major league baseball player, known for hosting an annual Christmas Eve show from Times Square. He and Isla have a long-running tradition of alternating what they want to do for the holidays. This year, it’s the daughter’s turn, and she decides to go on an Arctic cruise with her. Jim agrees to it on the condition that they return for his Christmas Eve show.
During the tour, Jim and Isla find themselves stranded in an Arctic town after the cruise leaves without them. The unexpected misadventure leads them to cross paths with a wildlife conservationist named Jane, who guides them back home through the frozen wilderness on her tundra buggy. Along the journey, the father tries hard to let go of control while his daughter basks in the beautiful nature surrounding them. Set in an Arctic town during Christmas, the film also features the Aurora Borealis and the Polar Bear Capital of the world, adding visual depth to the heartwarming tale.
Where Was A Very Arctic Christmas Filmed?
‘A Very Arctic Christmas’ was filmed entirely in Ontario, especially in and around Ottawa, under the working title ‘An Accidental Arctic Christmas.’ According to reports, principal photography for the suspenseful thriller got underway on March 30, 2026, and continued for more than two weeks before wrapping up in mid-April of the same year. As the premiere approached, the director, Robin Dunne, appreciated his fellow cast and crew members who helped him bring the project to life. He stated, “This was a special one. Thanks to everyone involved. Congrats to all the cast on such heartfelt performances…”
Ottawa, Ontario
The sprawling city of Ottawa, Canada’s capital, served as the primary production location for ‘A Very Arctic Christmas.’ Given its vast and versatile landscapes, it seemingly doubled as New York City, where Jim and Isla reside. As for the scenes set in the Arctic town where the father-daughter duo gets stranded, the production team traveled to the nearby municipality of Mississippi Mills, taping most of the key portions in the former mill town of Almonte.
In particular, during the shoot, the cast and crew members of the GAF film were spotted filming important scenes in and around The Monte Lounge at 81 Queen Street. The area outside the temporarily closed lounge, including other businesses and stores, also features in the backdrop of several outdoor sequences. Other notable movies and TV shows shot in and around Ottawa include ‘Winter Wonderlanes,’ ‘What If Christmas,’ ‘Kissing Is the Easy Part,’ ‘Hotel for the Holidays,’ ‘Catch Me If You Claus,’ ‘Shifting Gears,’ and ‘Geek Girl.’
A Very Arctic Christmas Cast Details
Cameron Mathison, Jill Wagner, and Maya Skabar lead the cast of ‘A Very Arctic Christmas’ and helped bring the heartwarming tale of family and new connections to life. Interestingly, Cameron and Jill previously collaborated on the 2022 TV movie ‘A Merry Christmas Wish,’ in which they portray Janie Collins and Dylan, respectively. According to Jill, she and Cameron kept the director on his toes because of their friendly on-set antics.
Cameron Mathison as Jim
Cameron Mathison dons the garb of the single father, Jim, who travels to the Arctic with his daughter in ‘A Very Arctic Christmas.’ He first broke into the scene through his portrayal of Ryan Lavery in ‘All My Children,’ after which he bagged many important roles in several major projects, including Andrew Cain in ‘General Hospital,’ Dillon Smith in ‘Hope & Faith,’ Mike Logan in ‘Along Came a Nanny,’ and Sam Stackhouse in ‘Home Sweet Christmas.’
Jill Wagner as Jane
In the GAF production, Jill Wagner stars opposite Cameron as a spirited wildlife conservationist named Jane. Throughout her decades-long career, she has given some memorable performances in different kinds of films and TV shows. Most of you might recognize her for the portrayals of Kate Argent in ‘Teen Wolf,’ Larrin in ‘Stargate: Atlantis,’ Polly Watt in ‘Splinter,’ Bobby in ‘Lioness,’ Jacq Reynolds in ‘Homestead: The Series,’ and Stephanie Braven in ‘Braven.’ Her other film credits include ‘Hearts of Winter,’ ‘The Legend of 5 Mile Cave,’ ‘Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa,’ and ‘A Harvest Wedding.’
Maya Skabar as Isla
Maya Skabar steps into the character of Isla, Jim’s 20-year-old daughter, who gets stranded with him in an Arctic town. The young and talented actor is known for portraying Nadie in ‘Gang de Hockey’ and Lisa in ‘Eaux Turbulentes.’ Maya also features in a French short film titled ‘Deux moments de vie’ and ‘Somebody’s Watching Me.’ In addition to the lead cast, ‘A Very Arctic Christmas’ also features Kendon Chase as Connor, John James as Gordon, Brandon Ludwig as Chris, and Lindsay Rolland-Mills as Missy.
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