Film aims to show 'Christmas isn't all tinsel and gingerbread'

"If this was an American film, they would have spent millions building a set," says actor John Bradley, "we've just got it on our doorstep."

Speaking at a gala screening of new festive flick Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint, the Game of Thrones star spoke glowingly about York's "warm, timeless and cinematic" charm.

Set in the city, the film opens with a snowy shot of York Minster, with the historic cobbled streets and famous festive markets also prominently featured.

While for some York may be the real star of the show, the cast isn't short of a few stars itself, with director Jack Spring describing it as packed with "British legend after British legend".

Richard E Grant, Celia Imrie, Jim Broadbent, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Karl Pilkington and Adjoa Andoh - among others - were "amazing at their jobs and all lovely people as well", he added.

Spring, Bradley and writer Chris Boyle-McQuarry returned to York on Monday, almost exactly a year after filming in the city, for a the screening and Q&A.

Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint tells the story of model soldier enthusiast Aubrey Flint (played by Bradley) who hates Christmas - and people.

But when a confrontation with a man on a mobility scooter lands him in community service, he is set to work helping to direct a production of A Christmas Carol at a struggling care home.

Spring told the audience the inspiration came from a 2018 BBC News clip showing two drama teachers staging plays in care homes.

Two years later he met Boyle-McQuarry, who came up with the idea of setting the story in York.

"My sister and nephews live in York," Boyle-McQuarry said.

"Jack came to me about coming up with a Christmas film and I remember thinking 'where's a great place to set something at Christmas?' and York popped into my head.

"The little shop where [Aubrey] buys the model soldiers, I could see that in York. It just spiralled from there."

Spring said Monday's screening was an opportunity to say "a little thank you to the people of York that made our life so easy when we were filming here".

"I've shot films all over the place but York by far was the most seamless, amazing, hospitable city to make a movie in," he said.

Boyle-McQuarry added that residents were "perfect" during filming.

"They'd have a look, see that we were filming but they were great when we needed to clear something to do a take, everyone would just pause, hold their chat and let us film," he said.

Bradley praised the city's "unique backdrop", which he said suited the festive theme perfectly.

"There's something really warm and timeless and cinematic about it. It's unlike anywhere else in the world, and it's lovely to be back."

In a message for residents, he told the BBC: "Sometimes when you see something every day you forget how beautiful it is.

"Hopefully when you see your city on screen, what we've done to it and how we've shot it, you'll fall in love with it again, we hope."

"One of the things I wanted to get across is that Christmas is lovely, but for some people Christmas isn't all tinsel and gingerbread men," Boyle-McQuarry explained.

"It can be a reflective time, a tricky time. We wanted to try and get that balance."

While the critics review's have been mixed, speaking shortly after the film's general release, Spring said its reception from the public had been "really good".

"It's making people laugh, making people cry and hopefully they're coming out of the cinema feeling a lot more Christmassy than when they came in."

Jo Patton, who watched the screening in York, said he "just had a smile on my face for the last half an hour".

"They've captured something which is very human and very British."

Filming took place last year outside his toy shop, Totally Awesome, with the shop-front featuring on screen.

"The turquoise of the shop popped really well - they featured it really beautifully," he said.

"You only ever see a tiny bit of that puzzle," he recalled.

"I don't know how many takes we saw. I didn't know what was going on."

Fellow audience members Tee and Ed Herwitz Gray thought York was "absolutely beautiful" on the big screen.

"It is like a picture-postcard. If it was Disney, they'd have to build a set to make it look like that," said Tee.

"York is becoming more popular for film and television, but it is still really rewarding."

"York is made for Christmas and it just seemed so natural," said Ed, 62.

Tee added: "I'm 63 and if I end up in one of those old folks' homes, I hope we do a Christmas play and that I'm in there with someone just as fabulous as Richard E Grant."

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.