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* {{IMDb name|id=1294651|name=Abdisalam Aato}} |
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Abdisalam Aato
عبد السلام أتو | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | mid-1970s |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | film director, producer, entrepreneur, media consultant |
| Years active | 2000s–present |
Abdisalam Aato ([Cabdisalaan Caato] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help), Arabic: عبد السلام أتو) (born mid-1970s) is a Somali-American film director, producer, entrepreneur and media consultant. He is the founder of Olol Films, a production company at the forefront of the Somaliwood movement within the Somali film industry.
Aato was born in the mid-1970s in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.[1] After the civil war broke out in the early 1990s, he moved to Kenya, where he lived for over three years.[2]
In 1996, Aato traveled to the United States at the invitation of his brother.[1][2] He initially resided in Georgia with his entire family, prior to his father's death. Aato studied Media there at a local scholastic institute.[1] In 2001, he relocated to Columbus, Ohio, where he is currently based.[2]
Aato is married. He describes his wife as his driving inspiration.[1]
While in Georgia, Aato began his professional career as a broadcaster and radio announcer at a community television station. He would write screenplays a minute at a time, subsequently moving on to scripting full-length feature films.[1] Aato later founded Olol Films, a Columbus-based production company that is at the forefront of the Somaliwood movement within the Somali film industry.[2]
In 2003, he released Rajo ("Hope"), his first feature-length Somali film. The movie was a relatively large production, with a helicopter and luxury vehicles hired for the purpose. It premiered to full houses on Thanksgiving at Studio 35 and a Minneapolis theater.[1]
As of 2007, Aato has produced, written and directed nine feature films and documentaries in his Cleveland Avenue studio. Two other productions were also in development.[2] He works closely with his wife on all of his film projects, wherein she provides consultation and advice on areas in need of improvement.[1]
Additionally, Aato launched Bartamaha, a multimedia website dedicated to Somali music, short films, news and culture.[2] As of 2013, he also serves as a Senior Media Advisor to the Federal Government of Somalia.[3]
