Festive Foreign Film Fans

Bob & Mark
  • 5.0 (24)
  • Arts
  • Updated Biweekly

Bob and Mark are regular American guys exploring different countries and cultures through the holiday experience of Christmas.  They enjoy festive movies, music, food, and customs.  Each episode features the two visiting a new international location.  It's like a global Christmas party!

  1. Sep 6

    Season 4, Episode 2 - A Child's Christmas in Wales/A Child's Christmases in Wales (Wales)

    Festive Fans Unite! (send us a message) It seems remarkable that after four years of traveling the world in search of Christmas, the Festive Fans hadn’t been to Wales yet.  This is especially strange since Wale’s own famed poet, Dylan Thomas, wrote one of the most beloved celebrations of childhood Christmas ever written, the epic poem A Child’s Christmas in Wales.  While we were wandering across continents, Wales—a country full of music, fireplaces, and cozy stone cottages—has been patiently waiting for us to discover it. Perhaps we assumed Wales was too obvious. Perhaps we were distracted by countries with stranger food, warmer weather, or more unique Christmas traditions. Or perhaps Wales was simply waiting for our fourth season, secure in the fact that the Festive Fans would sooner or later have to pass through its green valleys (plus, its snow-dusted mountains, medieval castles, quaint villages, and sheep, lots of sheep).   Whatever the excuse, four years is too long. Wales seems made for a foreign Christmas podcast. There is a sense of enchantment woven into this country. No one captured that feeling better than Dylan Thomas. His famous work is called a poem, but it reads like an adventure story. It doesn't have legends, battles, and conquering heroes; instead, it is a tale filled with snowball fights, eccentric relatives, and young boys roaming through a happily remembered Welsh town.  Dylan Thomas has that unmistakable Welsh gift for finding poetry in everyday life. The Christmastime he shows us is full of ordinary memories that become more cherished with every retelling. His childhood Wales is wonderfully honest and real and that is what makes the work so enduring.  And so, we not only visit A Child’s Christmas in Wales, but also the more modern version A Child’s Christmases in Wales, to fully appreciate the holiday chaos, the community, and the joy of looking backward. However, underneath the obvious youthful sentiment, there is an adult’s realization that the people and Christmases he remembers are gone. These films are not only a celebration of childhood, but a eulogy for it.  Our favorite Christmas memories are a shared emotional landscape, and Dylan Thomas turns that landscape into something universal. You do not have to be Welsh to envision the world he describes in the poem. We all have childhood Christmases that become brighter in our minds as the years get more distant. Dylan Thomas just recognizes that memory does not only preserve a moment in time, it decorates it with magic. Email Address:  festivefans@gmail.com Instagram: @festivefans 4F Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6ccCbuBY0Yi7WAx6F0Gu8f?si=135ea2453ce645ce Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848 4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise) https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

  2. Aug 25

    Season 4, Episode 1 - Yotama Se Va Voldando (Venezuela)

    Festive Fans Unite! (send us a message) The Festive Fans are starting out the fourth season with Venezuela, but we are feeling a bit sheepish.  We love the country but honestly feel like we just showed up with an uninvited guest or were overserved at the Christmas party.  I mean what do you say to a country that your President invaded in the middle night, arrested their President, and now he wants their oil.  It really seems like a social faux pas.  We hate showing up to this episode empty-handed when the featured country has clearly been snubbed.  I mean maybe not wine or chocolate, but an ornament or a poinsettia for the country being fleeced would have been a nice gesture. To start the new year, we purposely selected Venezuela. Why Venezuela? Season Four should start with a little surprise. And Christmas in Venezuela has plenty of them.  If we’re going to spend another season talking about Christmas, we want to start somewhere where they have food wrapped in plantain leaves, incredible music, and residents roller-skating to church. If you think about it, that’s a pretty difficult opening show to try to beat. Venezuela provides us a strong jumping off point because it sets the tone for what our fourth season is about – discovery and grace.  That’s why Venezuela feels like the perfect place to begin. There are plenty of other people willing to talk about governments, raids, and everything bad that happens between countries. We like to talk about more important things, like Christmas. It is a tradition shared by people around the world, but every country brings its own history, food, music, faith, and local customs to the holiday.  Venezuela?  It gives us a colorful, meaningful, and surprising place to begin this journey.  For one episode, at least, we can put our politics aside and discover how Venezuelan families celebrate. This gives us a chance to laugh, learn, eat, and talk about roller skates. The world has enough political podcasts.  Let’s go find Christmas! Email Address:  festivefans@gmail.com Instagram: @festivefans 4F Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6ccCbuBY0Yi7WAx6F0Gu8f?si=135ea2453ce645ce Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848 4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise) https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

  3. Aug 6

    Festive Foreign Film Fans Third Anniversary and Ultimate Star-Spangled Smackdown (Part 2)!

    Festive Fans Unite! (send us a message) When we last left our Festive Fans, the dynamic duo faced almost certain doom. Their wives had been swayed by the beefy charms of ancient hunks Rudolph Valentino and Peter the Great.  The Baby Pool Time Machine was on the fritz, and their taste buds were signaling a full-blown meltdown and beer emergency!  What to do?  With a romantic reunion seemingly impossible, were the boys trapped in some kind of demented Hallmark holiday film?  Was this a classic time-traveling rom-com catastrophe?  Most importantly, could Mark and Bob still survive this diabolical dilemma to revisit the 12 Beers of Christmas (this time for the win)? There’s only one way to find out! Three years of exploring Christmas movies from around the world deserves more than just one episode celebration. That’s why Part 2 promises to keep the festivities going with even more holiday fun, historical moments, and international Christmas cheer. Tune in to Part 2 of the Festive Foreign Film Fans 3rd Anniversary Show as we hand out the biggest 4F international Christmas awards yet.  Grab your cocoa. Hang the mistletoe. Secure the time machine. And join the party. This show is far from over. Whether you’ve been listening since the beginning or you’re just discovering us for the first time, know that this show is your chance to find some festive foods and explore holiday customs from every corner of the globe.  Don’t be discouraged, there is a lot of the still world waiting to be discovered. Email Address:  festivefans@gmail.com Instagram: @festivefans 4F Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6ccCbuBY0Yi7WAx6F0Gu8f?si=135ea2453ce645ce Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848 4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise) https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

  4. Jul 26

    Festive Foreign Film Fans Third Anniversary and Ultimate Star-Spangled Holiday Smackdown! (Part 1)

    Festive Fans Unite! (send us a message) Oops.  We goofed but it is all fixed! Sorry we're late.  We just got back from traveling --- time traveling.  Oh, and apologies for the sound in our cooking segment.  We were too excited baking to speak into our microphones.  Also, thank you to Sue Macinnes and La Belle Vie for her outstanding hospitality and holding our hands through the piragi process. Onto our Star-Spangled Spectacular.  We decided to piggyback on the recent 4th of July hype.  We know the 250th birthday of the United States is a fairly decent milestone. We applaud it. We've done a lot -- you know, the Revolutionary War, the transatlantic railroad, moon landings, microwave popcorn, blah, blah, blah.  It’s all pretty impressive.  But hey, listen, you can’t just sneer at a podcast about Christmas in foreign countries.  I mean, it's no beacon of democracy or the birth of a nation, I get that, but we have lasted three years at a time when the failure rate for podcasts is 90%. And we talk about foreign movies. Let us say that again and slower, "Foreign Movies".  You know, the subtitled ones.  I mean, not to diminish the revolutionary hullabaloo, but the Founding Fathers had a moral purpose, young patriots, and an entire continent to work with. The Festive Fans?  We've got Jake and a couple of microphones.  If anything, the odds seem to be more stacked against us.  I know the young Americans had to battle the British, but, c'mon, we have to overcome public disinterest and apathy. Is that a fair fight?  In 1776, some colonists boldly declared they wanted to be independent. Well, in 2023, two Christmas and movie enthusiasts showed that same streak of rebellion when they looked at each other and declared, "I bet people want to listen to us discuss festive movies from places like Bosnia, Panama, Iceland, Rwanda ... all year long."  And today, we celebrate that fierce spirit to free ourselves from the shackles of authority and convention.  Let freedom ring and let Christmas be celebrated in different ways and different places.  Hurrah! Both of these events required an extraordinary leap of faith and at least one person saying, "this sounds like a terrible idea ... but I’m in. (Thanks Mark).  America may be an imperfect union. It has endured wars, depressions, Cop Rock, and social media, and God bless it. Well, the The Festive Foreign Film Fans has been a similar experience. We have tolerated lengthy films that should never have been made and the names of places that are unpronounceable, but we did not back down.   So yes, the United States turned 250.  It’s a big deal and unquestionably historic. However, somewhere in a basement studio filled with Christmas decorations right now in the middle of a hot summer, there is another party taking place.  It’s a toast to three years of festive adventures. It’s a salute to three years of exploring how the world celebrates Christmas. It’s a celebration of three years of honest friendship, laughter, and holiday cheer.  So let’s raise a glass to the U.S. and 4F, two young upstarts who dreamed of making it big out on their own.  Sometimes they really do it.  Cheers! Email Address:  festivefans@gmail.com Instagram: @festivefans 4F Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6ccCbuBY0Yi7WAx6F0Gu8f?si=135ea2453ce645ce Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848 4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise) https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

  5. Jun 25

    Season 3, Episode 21 - The Family Tree (Panama)

    Festive Fans Unite! (send us a message) What better way for the Festive Fans to celebrate the end of our third season, than by abandoning the snow-covered streets, roaring fireplaces, and winter landscapes of most holiday movies, books and songs to travel down south.  It is June, so we are off to a place known for its tropical warmth, rich cultural heritage and vibrant holiday music and dancing.  We wanted a party-like atmosphere, so we have selected a country that blends Spanish, Indigenous, African, and Caribbean influences, creating a unique and different Christmas experience.  Despite the warm temperatures, the merry atmosphere here is just as festive. We are in the Republic of Panama, the southernmost country in Central America. While the country is known for its famous canal, Panama is also a natural land bridge, connecting South and Central America. Because of its unique geography, plant and animal life from both continents flourish here.  Its biodiversity is one of the richest in the world, three times higher than the United State, Canada and Europe combined, with more than 10,000 plant species, 200 mammal species, and more than 1,000 bird species.  What is perhaps not so colorful is the Panamanian indie movie we watched, The Family Tree.  This film aims to be a classic Christmas tale but ends up more like a formulaic melodrama with acting akin to a soap opera.  The film and the story are so weak, they create a negative impression of the country.  However, with Panama's natural beauty, friendly people, and unique holiday traditions, it is almost enough to offset the 131 minutes of tedium before we get back to the celebrating.  The lively music does help.  “Os Almirantes” is a Panamanian ska punk and rock band, and we listen to their popular Christmas song, "Merry Christmas Panama", released in 2020. The song captures the genuine spirit and rhythms of Panama, referencing family preparations, holiday foods, and midnight fireworks. Music plays such an essential part of Christmas in Panama, as dancing and lively parties continue late into the night, with traditional folk music, salsa, and popular holiday songs.  Obviously, The Family Tree should not define our perception of Panama. The true spirit of Christmas can be found anywhere in the world, no matter the weather or their movies. By looking beyond the screen, we discover a country that is worth exploring and celebrating with its breathtaking scenery, deep musical history, and vibrant cultural diversity. Email Address:  festivefans@gmail.com Instagram: @festivefans 4F Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6ccCbuBY0Yi7WAx6F0Gu8f?si=135ea2453ce645ce Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848 4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise) https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

  6. May 18

    Season 3, Episode 20 - Nine Mornings (Philippines)

    Festive Fans Unite! (send us a message) Well, the Festive Fans have been toiling for three years, searching out celebrations, rich traditions, and delicious food from all over the world.  We find joy in all of the countries we visit, as we continue our search for the happiest and most magical places on Earth.  Like climbing a mystical mountain, we may have finally reached the pinnacle. Our podcast about the Philippines does not just describe a destination, it is a culture that embraces Christmas with unmatched passion and heart. Few countries celebrate the Yuletide season with as much energy, love, and spirit as the Philippines, making it truly the best holiday location in the world, and the Festive Fans admit we are thrilled.  Our experience in the Philippines is like reaching a sacred destination.  We have spent years on a hunt for the true global spirit of Christmas.  We have traveled the world seeking the best holiday destinations, where Christmas is genuine and magical.  And, we have finally arrived at the optimal location, which is like finally arriving to meet that mysterious guru at the top of the mountain. Just like the seeker who climbs a steep path hoping to gain wisdom, visitors who experience Christmas in the Philippines discover a celebration so rich in warmth and humanity that it does feel spiritually enlightening. The guru at the top of the mountain symbolizes our podcast as well, as we both try to expand consciousness, broaden horizons, and dissolve country borders.  The emotional warmth of Christmas in the Philippines can be transformative, much like the beauty and reflection displayed by that fabled teacher. One of the most remarkable reasons the Philippines is the best holiday location is that it celebrates the longest Christmas season in the world. Festivities begin as early as September and continue until January. The moment the “ber” months arrive, Christmas songs fill shopping malls, colorful lanterns light up the streets, and homes become decorated with sparkling lights and ornaments.  While many people associate Christmas with snow, the Philippines provides a tropical alternative filled with white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush mountains. This combination of holiday spirit and paradise-like landscapes makes the experience truly unforgettable.  We also learn so much this episode, as we discuss the Philippian tradition of Simbang Gabi, which is the ultimate test of Christmas devotion with nine pre-dawn masses.  This custom is portrayed in the film we review -- 9 Mornings — which is not just about Simbang Gabi, but also a romantic drama.  It promises to fully ignite your Christmas spirit. There are lessons here, but without being preachy, religious or melodramatic. Much like The Christmas Carol, the story is simple, as it examines how the true meaning of Christmas is about finding your purpose in life. We also give a well-deserved shout out to the wives and mothers in our lives, and we hear from the most important people who matter, our kids.  And maybe that’s the perfect conclusion to this episode.  It highlights the best things in our lives — our kids, wives, and, of course, the Philippines at Christmastime! Email Address:  festivefans@gmail.com Instagram: @festivefans 4F Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6ccCbuBY0Yi7WAx6F0Gu8f?si=135ea2453ce645ce Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848 4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise) https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

  7. Apr 29

    Season 3, Episode 19 - Snow Over Kigali: An African Christmas Tale (Rwanda)

    Festive Fans Unite! (send us a message) For this episode, our journey unfolds under warm African skies and rolling green hills, as we venture out of the lingering winter cold and into the famous mountains of Volcanoes National Park.  Instead of tinsel and lights, we are surrounded by dormant volcanoes, dense rainforest, and bamboo groves.  This is the land where Dian Fossey lived for 18 years, studying and protecting the mountain gorillas. The Festive Fans are in Rwanda, the land of Gorillas in the Mist. The same mist that once cloaked Fossey’s research camps still lingers, softening and blurring the line between past and present. Rwanda’s story is powerful because of its remarkable success over the past three decades.  It is currently one of Africa’s fastest-growing and most forward-looking countries. Rwanda has found a way to embrace both its amazing natural heritage and the profound human tragedy that occurred there.  In the aftermath of the 1994 genocide, the country faced incredible challenges, including a devastated infrastructure, deep social divisions, and a shattered economy. Yet Rwanda has deliberately worked to redefine its global image, from one defined by tragedy in the past to one associated with unity and possibility for the future.   Overall, Rwanda offers a different perspective on the Christmas holiday—one with less emphasis on lights, trees, and shopping, and more on simple acts of faith and gratitude. The atmosphere is festive but modest. It’s less about spectacle and more about meaning, making it a powerful reminder of what the season represents at its core.  Rwanda is a leader in environmental conservation, where plastic bags are banned, communities participate in monthly clean-up days (Umuganda), and conservation of landscapes like Volcanoes National Park is a national priority.  This commitment to conservation, sustainability, and stewardship mirrors how Christmas is celebrated across the country. There is an emphasis on simplicity, shared meals, and gathering.   Rwanda’s Christmas is not just a religious or cultural event, but also an expression of the country’s philosophy that caring for one another and caring for the natural world can be deeply intertwined. In this way, its famous mountain gorillas are woven into this deeper Yuletide message that care, respect, and coexistence — amongst people, nature, and the animal kingdom — are at the heart of what truly makes the season meaningful. Email Address:  festivefans@gmail.com Instagram: @festivefans 4F Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6ccCbuBY0Yi7WAx6F0Gu8f?si=135ea2453ce645ce Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848 4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise) https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

  8. Apr 17

    Season 3, Episode 18 - Sabina K (Bosnia-Herzegovina)

    Festive Fans Unite! (send us a message) The Festive Fans are feeling a little tired.  We have been woken up by a little one, relatively new to the world. Like watching any baby, it can be a little messy, unpredictable, and joyful.  Our sense of time must have disappeared completely — April 6th feels exactly like April 18th — but we have been operating on very little sleep.  So join us tonight, as we tend to the care of the very young nation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, a country that emerged from the war in the 1990s and is just an infant in country years.  The rise of Bosnia-Herzegovina after the devastation of war was the birth of an independent nation — marked by struggle but filled with immense promise. Like a newborn, Bosnia-Herzegovina has been given the opportunity to grow, heal, and redefine its future. Visiting here for the podcast gives us encouragement. We can see the progress they are making, and how the different cultures can coexist.  Through this episode’s film, Sabina K, we can see the struggles this new country faces in the post-war world. Since the 1990s, they’ve experienced war crimes and acts of vengeance. And yet, inspired by a true story and through Sabina’s character, we also see little glimpses of kindness among residents with ethnic and religious differences. In the midst of the dire circumstances framed in the story, hope still shines like the bright stars on a Christmas tree.   Understanding the Christmas season in Bosnia-Herzegovina brings us an awareness of its history. Traditions have been preserved despite historical upheaval. The scars of war are still visible, yet so is their determination to move forward. There is a blend of traditions — Bosniaks (mostly Muslim), Croats (mostly Catholic), and Serbs (mostly Orthodox). This diversity shapes Bosnia-Herzegovina today.  What may have once contributed to its violence now seems to be guiding Bosnia-Herzegovina toward a more unified and better future.  In the end, our show is not just about observing foreign traditions—it is about understanding a country. Witnessing the gradual blending of its once-divided ethnic identities is like watching a fretful baby finally drift off to a peaceful sleep. The tension and unrest that once defined the nation is seeping away. The future for Bosnia-Herzegovina is shaped less by conflict and more by coexistence, and there is no better Christmas gift.  Although the past cannot be undone, this fragile peace gives us hope for a more harmonious tomorrow. Email Address:  festivefans@gmail.com Instagram: @festivefans 4F Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6ccCbuBY0Yi7WAx6F0Gu8f?si=135ea2453ce645ce Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848 4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise) https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

See All (79)

Trailers

5
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

Bob and Mark are regular American guys exploring different countries and cultures through the holiday experience of Christmas.  They enjoy festive movies, music, food, and customs.  Each episode features the two visiting a new international location.  It's like a global Christmas party!

Information

  • Creator
    Bob & Mark
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    79
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Festive Foreign Film Fans
  • Show Website
    Festive Foreign Film Fans

You Might Also Like