We created a festive, high-energy Christmas campaign for BID Leicester, designed to celebrate the city and encourage people to shop local during the holiday period. Built around a playful, tongue-in-cheek narrative, the film brings seasonal joy to the forefront while showcasing Leicester’s vibrant locations and businesses.

The challenge was to create a high-end, cinematic advert for the BID Leicester Gift Card that felt both aspirational and unmistakably local. The film needed to sit comfortably in cinemas and online, looking like it belonged alongside national campaigns, while still retaining a playful, vibrant energy that reflected Leicester itself.

Alongside this, the production presented practical challenges. Packed shoot days, fast turnarounds between locations, and the demands of shooting across busy public spaces meant that precision and efficiency were essential. We needed to move quickly without sacrificing quality, ensuring that every frame felt intentional, polished, and alive with momentum.

Our creative approach centred around a tongue-in-cheek comedy narrative. The story follows a young man who receives a Leicester Gift Card from his grandmother, with a seemingly unlimited budget, and proceeds to treat himself and his friends to a day of reckless spending and lavish living. Through a humorous lens, the film lovingly pokes fun at familiar holiday and lifestyle tropes, while showcasing the breadth and energy of Leicester’s local businesses.

Visually, we set out to create a fast-paced, stylised film shot across recognisable Leicester locations. To keep pace with the schedule, we relied on quick lighting setups, an agile crew, and clear communication — allowing us to capture as many shots as possible within tight time constraints.

A strong emphasis was also placed on art direction and production design. With the support of our brilliant DOP and Art Director, every location was carefully considered and dressed to maintain a consistent visual language throughout the film. While the process was physically and creatively demanding, the passion of our scrappy crew and a troupe of talented actors brought a contagious energy to set that emanated through the screen.

The result was a bold, energetic TVC that felt both cinematic and accessible. A piece that celebrated Leicester while delivering a playful, high-impact campaign for the Leicester Gift Card. The film translated seamlessly across cinema and social platforms, achieving the high-end look we set out to create while retaining a strong sense of humour and personality.

Most importantly, the project proved that a locally rooted campaign could stand confidently alongside larger commercial work, without losing its identity or charm. It was a testament to what can be achieved through strong collaboration, clear creative vision, and a shared belief in telling stories that feel alive, entertaining, and true to place.