Abdisalam Aato

Aato was born in the '70s in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.[2] After the civil war broke out in the early 1990s, he fled to Kenya in 1993, where he lived in a refugee camp near Mombasa for over three years.[3][1]

In 1996, Aato traveled to the United States at the invitation of his brother.[2][3] He initially resettled in Atlanta, Georgia with his entire family, prior to his father's death. In 2001, he relocated to Columbus, Ohio, a prominent center for the Somali diaspora, where he is currently based.[3][1]

Aato is married. He describes his wife as his driving inspiration.[2]

While in Georgia, Aato began his professional career as a broadcaster and radio announcer at a community television station, Media One. He would write screenplays a minute at a time, subsequently moving on to scripting full-length feature films.[2] With his experience learning film production at Media One, Aato later founded Olol Films, a Columbus-based production company that is at the forefront of the Somaliwood movement within the Somali film industry.[3][1]

In 2003, he released Rajo ("Hope"), his first feature-length Somali film. It is a semi-autobiographical action drama about a young Somali refugee.[1] 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.[2] It is It has since become recognized as the first film in the Somaliwood movement and made Columbus the center of Somali diasporic film production.[1] The film marked the beginning of a new wave of Somali films in the 2000s; these films were written, directed and produced by Somali emigres outside Somalia.[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.[3] He works closely with his wife on all of his film projects, wherein she provides consultation and advice on areas in need of improvement.[2]

Additionally, Aato launched Bartamaha, a multimedia website dedicated to Somali music, short films, news and culture.[3] He likewise hosts the weekly television and online program the Wargelin Show, which focuses on Somali politics and society.[4] As of 2013, Aato also serves as a Senior Media Advisor to the Federal Government of Somalia.[5]

• Rajo (2003)
• Xaaskayga Araweelo (2006)
• Ambad (2011)

• Ali Said Hassan
• Idil Ibrahim
• Cinema of Somalia