Fernand's Christmas

Fernand le père Noël

François Pierre Breau
2025 | 10 min
Documentary
French with English subtitles

Awards and Festivals

Competition - Best Acadian ShortFICFA - Festival international du du cinéma francophone en Acadie, NB, Canada (2025)

A National Film Board of Canada production

Fernand’s Christmas is the story of an extraordinary man. Despite his fragile health, every year he dons the familiar red costume to delight the children in his region. For them, he’s the real Santa Claus, and watching this film, you’ll believe, too. Supported by his family’s love and driven by his devotion to children and his community, Fernand shows us what the true spirit of Christmas is all about: having a generous heart and a passion for giving.

Long Synopsis

Supported by his close-knit family, Fernand grows out his beard; dons his red costume, tuque and long black boots; perches small, round glasses on the end of his nose; and heads off with his big bag of toys and candy cane to instill wonder in the children of the Acadian Peninsula. For the little ones, he is the real Santa Claus. Despite suffering from multiple health problems for years and receiving dialysis three times a week, passing up an opportunity to spread joy is out of the question for Fernand. It’s not inconceivable that this holiday magic is keeping him alive. Watching this film, you realize he isn’t playing a part. He really is Santa Claus.

Logline

If Santa Claus was real, his name would be Fernand.

Credits

Fernand’s Christmas

Director, writer and researcher
François Pierre Breau

With the participation of
Fernand Breau
Brigitte Breau
Frédéric Comeau
Marie-Lise Breau
Solange Wehrmann
Noah Richard
David Wehrmann
Florence Wehrmann
François Pierre Breau
Vanessa Haché Breau
Zachary Breau
Domenic Bro
Martine Lebreton
Alice Bibie Breau
David Mathieu St-Pierre Breau
Laetitia Dru
Aline Noël
Marie Pier Godin

The children and staff of garderie La Découverte
Children and parents who participated in the event organized at Stylopress
Children and parents who participated in the event organized at Tazza Caffe
Members and staff of Espace La Fabrique
Patients and staff at the Tracadie Hospital Dialysis Unit
Participants in the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Richelieu Park, in Neguac
Adam Robichaud and his gang at the cottage

Editor
Philippe Angers

Sound Designer
Dennis Morton

Original Music
Dennis Morton
© 2025 National Film Board of Canada (SOCAN)

Directors of Photography
Les Frères Breau Productions – François Pierre Breau and Domenic Bro

Camera Operator
Isjaki Studio – Jérôme Luc Paulin

Sound Recordists
Dennis Morton
Eric Miller
Domenic Bro

Production Manager
Stéphane Lévesque

DIT
Isjaki Studio – Jérôme Luc Paulin
Les Frères Breau Productions – François Pierre Breau

Consultant
Brigitte Breau

Re-recording Mixer
Isabelle Lussier

Online Editor and Colourist
Luca Di Gioacchino

Motion graphics design and Visual effects
Cynthia Ouellet

Subtitles
difuze

Executive Producer
Nathalie Cloutier

Producer
Christine Aubé

Line Producer
Geneviève Duguay

Production Administrators
Justine Chevarie-Cossette
Victoire Bessette
Karine Desmeules
Sia Koukoulas

Senior Production Coordinator
Audrey Rétho

Technical Coordinators
Daniel Lord
Jean-François Laprise

Technical Support – Editing
Pierre Dupont
Patrick Trahan
Albert Kurian

Technical Support – Audio
Bernard Belley

Version and Accessibility Coordinator
Sylvie Azoulay

Additional Music
“Miracle ambulant”
Written, composed and performed by Brigitte Breau
Accompanied by Frédéric Comeau
© 2025 Brigitte Breau

Special Thanks
Espace La Fabrique, Tracadie
Jessika Hébert
Richelieu Municipal Park, Neguac
Camp jeunesse Richelieu, Tracadie
Tazza Caffe, Tracadie
Sonia Grondin
Salon de coiffure Le Salon, Saint-Isidore
Chalet Robichaud, Maltempec
Ben & Flo Tissus, Saint-Isidore
Marie-France Sivret, Joanne Sivret, Stéphanie Mallet and Carmen Roussel for the costume
Stylopress, Tracadie
Caroline Mallais
Garderie La découverte, Tracadie
Arthur Sivret & Fils, as well as Karine and Serge for the van
Municipality of Neguac
Regional Municipality of Tracadie
Vitalité Health Network
Tracadie Hospital
Staff and patients of the Tracadie Hospital Dialysis Unit
Bernard Basque, dedicated volunteer responsible for collecting and distributing gifts
Fernand, Brigitte, Pierre and Domenic for the shooting locations
Christine and her team at the NFB, for the opportunity and for their support