This Emotional Christmas Ad, Made for $60, Might Beat All the Rest

You don't need millions of dollars if you have a story that connects with viewers. 

In Britain, once again this year, companies are throwing everything they can into their Christmas advertising in hopes of standing out. But one of the most compelling productions didn't cost much at all to make—just £50, or a little over $60. 

It's the work of British filmmaker Phil Beastall. His Christmas short film was actually made in 2014, but has suddenly gone viral this year. And it's being hailed by viewers as the kind of storytelling they wish they were getting from marketers. 

Check out the film here: 

"People seem to like my film because it's the story that shines through," Beastall tells the Independent. "You don't always need a huge budget, just an impactful narrative that gets the message across. I think there's a bit of a revolution going on in the advertising industry. People no longer want to be overtly sold something, which makes our job as video producers a lot harder because we have to sell indirectly." 

Of course, Beastall didn't have to sell anything at all here, which is a pretty big advantage, and of course means the piece isn't really an ad. Still, it's very well done and taps into something real and fresh amid a Christmas advertising market that's starting to feel more than a little fatigued.