Make the Yuletide Gay is a 2009 American Christmas-themed romantic comedy film written and directed by Rob Williams about a gay college student who is out at school, but is afraid to reveal his sexual orientation to his parents.[1] It stars Keith Jordan as Gunn, and Adamo Ruggiero as Gunn's boyfriend and roommate, Nathan. Kelly Keaton and Derek Long star as Anya and Sven, Gunn's parents, while Hallee Hirsh appears as Abby, Gunn's high school girlfriend.
Make the Yuletide Gay | |
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![]() Theatrical poster | |
Directed by | Rob Williams |
Written by | Rob Williams |
Produced by | Rodney Johnson Matthew Montgomery Rob Williams |
Starring |
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Cinematography | Ian McGlocklin |
Edited by | Denise Howard |
Music by | Austin Wintory |
Production company | Guest House Films |
Distributed by | TLA Releasing |
Release date |
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Running time | 89 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Make the Yuletide Gay premiered at the Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film and Video Festival on May 17, 2009.[2]
The title of the film comes from a line in the 1944 song Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane.
Year | Festival | Award | Category |
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2009 | FilmOut San Diego | Audience Award | Best Narrative Feature Best Supporting Actress, Kelly Keaton Best Supporting Actor, Derek Long |
2009 | Seoul LGBT Film Festival | Audience Award | Best Feature |
2009 | Long Island Gay & Lesbian Film Festival | Jury Award | Best Men's Feature |
2009 | North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival | Men's Centerpiece Selection | |
2009 | Philadelphia QFest | Festival Favorite | |
2009 | Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival | Gala Night Film | |
Make the Yuletide Gay was released on DVD on November 10, 2009.[1]
In 2017 Rob Williams published the book based on the film, Make The Yuletide Gay: The Novel ISBN 978-1548715595. Now, with this novel, fans can learn more about the Gunnunderson, Stanford and Mancuso families, gain more insight into Gunn’s journey over that fateful holiday week, and even find out what happens afterwards. Included in this book is a new short story When Olaf Met Nathan, which details the first meeting between the two college freshmen, randomly assigned as roommates but destined to become much more.
In 2018 he released a (not yet filmed) sequel Make The Yuletide Gay 2: The Novel ISBN 978-1987529661. Years have passed since the fateful Christmas dinner when Gunn came out to his wacky yet loving parents. Gunn and Nathan have maintained a long-term, long-distance relationship due to Nathan's career choices and Gunn's graduate education. Now that they’re living in the same city and both teaching at the same college where Gunn's father Sven works, Gunn and Nathan are planning a Christmas wedding! Unfortunately, not everything is going as planned...