For some folks the fall months is race to your local Party City for a last minute spooktastic costume or a chance to take a trip to your corner Starbuck for a signature pumpkin spice latte instagram post. However for a select few who believe in merry and bright it marks the beginning to Hallmarks Countdown to Christmas Spectacular. The mecca of holiday cheer begins celebrating the the fall season with โChristmas at Castle Hartโ starring Hallmark channel favorite and Mean Girls star Lacey Chabert. The film is one many festive films adding themselves the legacy of channel.
Founded in 2001, Hallmark has become a staple for hit holiday movies including โChristmas Under Wrapsโ, โA Royal Christmasโ and โThe Holiday Sitterโ. The media giant celebrated its anticipated christmas movies series launch with soiree worthy of Santaโs nice list. Both big wigs and big fans of Hallamrk gatherted at New York Cityโs high hot stop The Peak. The night was packed full of delicious cuisines supplied by the 5 star restaurant and sparkling signature cocktails that left me feeling like I received the best present this holiday season.
Speaking of presents, the holiday mecca gave us a sweet gift in form of music with a surprise performance by multi grammy winner Norah Jones. The iconic songstress delivered a pitch perfect performance of hit songs like โCome Away With Meโ and new holiday renditions of fan favorites like โHave Yourself a Merry Little Christmasโ. Adding the perfect ribbon to a spectacular night was Hallmark announcing that joining Norah Jones in the movie music world is superstar and living legend Cher, a piece of information that I wish I could hear over and over again, truly if I could turn back time.
Standing on top of the world in the middle of some of our favortite Hallmark movie props felt like a Christmas dream. The night ended with cheerful treats and a signature ornimanet that I canโt wait to place on my Christmas while watching my favorite Hallmark channel premiere movie.
This moving documentary has so much wrapped up in one film. What is most impressive is that first time filmmaker, Moses Bwayo, shot 5,000 hours of film and brilliantly condensed the most intricate footage into two hours. Bwayo highlights the love story of the charismatic couple that led Robert and Barbie together, and the strength of their union that helped them survive this trying and dangerous season of their lives. He captures the power of woman, Barbie Kyagulanyi, who remains poised, exhibiting grace under fire as she navigates her children and family through extended periods of time apart from her husband, Robert, the man we call Bobi Wine; Barbie, not knowing if her spouse was dead or alive. Bwayo captures the story of liberation, documenting the campaigns, the arrests and the volatility that surround Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) during his fervent run for office. With an unbiased eye, he captures the stories of heartbreak, brutal murders, hostility and literally blood in the streets of Uganda. With enthusiasm and belief in a greater mission, his film illustrates a story of hope, pulling the viewers in to chant for the success of Bobi Wine; albeit we are aware of the fate of this brave leader to take on such a powerful authority that is Museveni; and most importantly this film serves as an eye opener to the world that is blindly unaware of the suffering of the People of Uganda and other nations of the world, who face day-to-day tragedies, as they beg for and seek asylum and equal rights as human beings.ย 
