Carley Smale

Carley Smale

Carley Smale is a Canadian screenwriter, writer, and director best known for her prolific work in the made-for-television Christmas romantic comedy genre. Growing up in Peterborough, Ontario, she developed a passion for writing and filmmaking early on. After specializing in screenwriting at Humber College, she gained a significant foothold in the industry by interning at a production company that focused on TV movies, eventually becoming the Director of Development for their Christmas content. Smale is credited with over a dozen produced screenplays for major networks and streaming services. Her breakthrough came with the Lifetime movie The Christmas Parade (2014) and she gained further recognition for popular titles like Snowed-Inn Christmas (2017), Christmas Pen Pals (2018), and the Netflix original Midnight at the Magnolia (2020), which was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award. In addition to her rom-com work, she wrote and directed the 2014 indie feature Cold Season, which won the Jury Award at the Toronto Independent Film Festival. Smale is one of the writers for the screenplay of the upcoming Netflix film My Secret Santa (2025), and she continues to be a highly sought-after name in the festive, feel-good film space.

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