Behind The Scenes

The documentary about Charles Graves wasn’t planned as a feature film. It became one as the story revealed itself. Here’s the short version of how it got made.

Charles Graves is the most visible Deaf Santa Claus working today. He’s also a husband, a father, a community member, and someone who pursued this work for years before any cameras showed up.

The foundation didn’t start as a grand plan. It started with a man who looked like Santa, a documentary crew, and a question: what would it take to make this last?

Yes, Santa schools are real, they’ve existed for nearly 90 years, and what they teach is more substantive than you’d think.

Charles Graves became the first widely-known Deaf Santa Claus, but Deaf Santas have appeared in Deaf schools and Deaf communities for far longer. Here’s some of the history that came before.

Theatrical premiere of Deaf Santa Claus at Cinema Salem launches a national tour this December, expanding to nearly 20 cities with screenings and community events.