THE MERCHANTS OF JOY

THE MERCHANTS OF JOY

Centerpiece
90 min
BUY TICKET

WORLD PREMIERE For the five families that control NYC’s Christmas tree trade, the most wonderful time of the year starts months before the first fir tree displays hit busy sidewalks in the five boroughs. There is the competition for sources and locations—not to mention strategizing to stretch the proceeds of five scant weeks into a living for the rest of the year. Celia Aniskovich’s delightful peek behind the curtain of a holiday tradition captures a truly singular cast of characters, among them NYC’s seasonal stand workers, who add extra spice to every sale. – Jaie Laplante

The first screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Celia Aniskovich.

All in-person screening venues provide sound amplification headphones upon request with venue management. IFC Center can also provide a T-Coil loop for compatible devices.

Director: Celia Aniskovich
Producer: Celia Aniskovich, Zoe Vock, Arthur Spector, Joshua Davis, Joshuah Bearman
Executive Producer: Todd Lubin, Ivan Schneeberg, David Fortier, Douglas Banker, Gillian Brown, Ben Affleck, Dani Bernfeld
Cinematographer: Carrie Cheek
Editor: Brett Banks, Samuel Kun
Composer: Jackson Greenberg
Language: English
Year: 2025
Animation
DOC NYC Alumni
Economy
Family
NYC
Women Directors
World Premiere

Event details

In-Person Date

Friday, November 14, 2025 6:30 PM

Venue

SVA Theatre

Buy Tickets

Online Dates

Saturday, November 15 - Sunday, November 30, 2025

Venue

Online Screening

Buy Tickets

Explore More

NYC PREMIERE Amy Goodman “believes that journalism put to its highest use can be the greatest force for good that the world has ever seen,” says her former colleague Dave Isay in Steal This Story, Please! It’s the reason that Goodman and her signature show Democracy Now! (celebrating its 30th year in 2026) are revered for integrity and dauntlessness.



DOC NYC alumni Tia Lessin and Carl Deal literally chase after Goodman as she pursues the stories that Western corporate media increasingly finds inconvenient to cover. Along the way, they reveal the personal side to her iconic persona, confirming depths of empathy behind the scenes that balloon our appreciation of the force that is Goodman. - Jaie Laplante

The first screening will be followed by a Q&A with director/producer Carl Deal, director/producer Tia Lessin and film protagonist Amy Goodman.

All in-person screening venues provide sound amplification headphones upon request with venue management. IFC Center can also provide a T-Coil loop for compatible devices.