On December 16th, the Embassy of Ukraine in India in collaboration with the Embassies of Finland and Norway, the Smile Foundation, and SIFFCY, organized the global premiere of “All I Want for Christmas”, a poignant travel documentary produced by Travelxp.
The event took place at the Embassy of Finland in New Delhi and brought together diplomats, journalists, and changemakers for an evening of storytelling that resonated deeply on an emotional level.
Directed by Indian award-winning filmmaker Kamakhya Narayan Singh, the 42-minute documentary tells the story of Ukrainian refugees in Norway, a girl Anastasia and her mother Ksenia, as they navigate the challenges of displacement. Seeking to bring joy back into their lives, Anastasia’s mother plans a trip to Finland’s Lapland—a winter wonderland where dreams of meeting Santa Claus come true. The documentary beautifully captures the magic of Christmas while delivering a powerful message of hope and resilience.
“We are deeply grateful to the filmmakers, TravelXP and the Smile Foundation, SIFFCY, for bringing this powerful story to life. We also thank our partners—Finland and Norway—for their unwavering support and dedication. The film reminds us of the profound impact of war, especially on children, who should never be deprived of peace, safety, and a loving home. Ukraine remains committed to the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, ensuring that Ukrainian children abducted by Russia are reunited with their families and given back their right to a future filled with hope and dignity. Ukrainian children deserve to celebrate Christmas with their families in a peaceful Ukraine, where joy and warmth replace fear and loss.”
“The documentary All I Want for Christmas highlights not just the spirit of Christmas but also the resilience, hopes, and dreams of refugees from Ukraine amidst Russia’s ongoing war of aggression. The documentary reflects our shared commitment to solidarity, compassion, and the belief in a brighter future for everyone. Ukraine is fighting for the free world, and it deserves our unwavering support for as long as it takes.”
"All I want for Christmas is a reminder of the importance of love, family, and hope during this holiday. Seeing the journey of Anastasia and Ksenia, two brave souls seeking safety in Norway, is a story that fills us with inspiration. Norway supports Ukraine and will continue to help against Russian aggression. We currently have over 85,000 Ukrainian refugees in Norway. Let us all hold onto the hope for a brighter future. A future where peace, love, and happiness are within reach for all.”
“We wanted to deliver a very impactful message with a very light-hearted film. Christmas has always been a festival of joy, relationships, and magic. It was about highlighting how we need to bring that same happiness and magic back into the lives of people of Ukraine, and people at large. It was an honour to be able to work on this project and to have the support of Finland, Norway, and Ukraine. We are committed to using our platform and the medium of travel storytelling to deliver more such impactful messages when we get the opportunity.”
Following the screening, a lively discussion on the film took place, featuring filming experience and insights from the director Kamakhya Narayan Singh, producer Nisha Chothani, and film critic Murtaza Ali Khan.
We express our sincere gratitude to Travelxp – Prashant, Nisha and Tanay Chotani; Kamakhya Narayan Singh personally and his team, the Embassies of Finland and Norway, the Smile Foundation, Jitendra Mishra of SIFFCY and Murtaza Ali Khan. Your unwavering commitment and solidarity are greatly appreciated.
“All I Want for Christmas” is available on Travelxp’s digital platform and it will be TV broadcast globally in January 2025.