Cinema Salem Hosts Theatrical Premiere of Deaf Santa Claus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2025

Cinema Salem Hosts Theatrical Premiere of Deaf Santa Claus

Salem, MA — September 10, 2025 — Deaf Santa Claus, a new feature documentary, will premiere at Cinema Salem on Tuesday, September 24 at 6:30pm, bringing together leaders in the Deaf and disability communities, advocates, and local audiences for a powerful theatrical premiere.

With an uncanny resemblance to the icon himself, Charles Graves chases his dream of becoming a professional Deaf Santa Claus. Filmmakers chronicle Charles and his family as he attends Santa school and enlists the support of others in an attempt to better provide for his loved ones. 

Directed by Ben Shelton and Anthony Mowl, the film offers unique perspectives on navigating Deaf and hearing worlds in a story about family, fatherhood, and creating new traditions.

“We are proud to host the theatrical premiere of Deaf Santa Claus,” said Marshall Strauss, co-owner of Cinema Salem with his wife Elaine Gerdine. “Independent films like this show why it’s so important to support underrepresented filmmakers and the powerful stories they share that highlight pressing social issues.” This will be Massachusetts’ first screening of Deaf Santa Claus.

“Storytelling is one of the most effective tools we have,” said Darian Gambrell, Executive Director of DEAF, Inc. “This film not only entertains, it brings our advocacy community together around a shared vision of inclusion and access.” Advocates around the country will mark Deaf Awareness Month with a series of events and activities throughout September. 

Following the screening, there will be a Q&A with director Anthony Mowl and documentary subjects Charles and Kari Graves.

About the Film
Premiered at the 2024 Austin Film Festival and headed toward a full theatrical release this December, Deaf Santa Claus is both a film and an idea — that everyone deserves to experience the joy of the holidays. Through one man’s journey as Santa Claus, the documentary sheds light on access, identity, and community resilience.

Salem and Eastern Massachusetts Deaf Community
The Deaf community in Salem and Eastern Massachusetts has a long history of advocacy, visibility, and cultural pride. The premiere is supported by Cinema Salem, the Deaf Santa Claus Foundation, and HireSanta with representatives from DEAF, Inc., Beverly School for the Deaf, the Massachusetts Chapter of Hands & Voices, the Massachusetts State Association of the Deaf, and Advocates, in attendance, underscoring the importance of celebrating universal stories on a community stage.

Tickets are available now at:
https://ticketing.useast.veezi.com/purchase/36902?siteToken=mz33me119qs1fn6sympyf41n2w