In 2020, director Aaron M Abelto released his first Oscar-contending documentary called The Power of Movement.
The film, which competed for a Best Feature Documentary nomination at the 2020 Oscars, documented radiation oncologist Dr Niraj Mehta as he offered cancer patients comfort and healing through dance therapy.
For Abelto, 37, the film embodies the kind of thought-provoking cinematic experiences he wants to create for audiences.
He told Newsday, “When making films I want people to feel inspired to go forward and embrace their experiences while achieving what they want to in life.
“Both the Power of Movement and Iron Temple are stories of great individuals that took what they wanted to do to inspire others. If I can inspire a whole bunch of individuals, through my films, to make it through anything that they’re going through or doing, then I’ve done my job.”
[caption id="attachment_936742" align="alignnone" width="683"] While the entertainment industry has its fair share of challenges, Aaron Abelto wants to continue creating thought-provoking cinematic experiences for audiences. - Aaron M Abelto[/caption]
Released in 2021, Iron Temple followed bodybuilder Tony Torres as he worked towards rebuilding his life after being imprisoned for five years. Torres was convicted for covering for a friend who committed murder.
Like the Power of Movement, the film also competed for a Best Feature Documentary at the 2021 Oscars.
In October 2021, the film had a short theatrical run at Laemmle Monica Film Center in Santa Monica, California, and Silverspot Cinema in Downtown Miami.
Though both documentaries contended for Oscar nominations but were unsuccessful in the end, Abelto is still proud they were recognised.
“There’s a different between a (Oscars) nomination and contender. Out of the thousands of films which are submitted for Oscars consideration, there are only a certain amount of films which qualify to be an Oscars contender.
“During last year’s (2021) Oscars, my film was luckily able to qualify. Once you qualify, you’re considered an Oscar contender.”
A US citizen and currently living in Pembroke Pines, Florida, Abelto’s Trini roots run deep.
His mother Allison Abelto lived in San Juan while his father Michael Abelto lived in St James. The two moved to the US in late 1970s where Abelto was born in 1984 and raised.
[caption id="attachment_936743" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Dr Niraj Mehta in a scene from Aaron Abeltos Oscar-contending documentary the Power of Movement, which competed for a Best Feature Documentary nomination at the 2020 Oscars. - Aaron M Abelto[/caption]
To date, he’s only visited TT twice. First, at a very young age and then in 2017.
“Obviously I practise the culture all the time…Carnival, the food and all that stuff. I follow the culture to the T, that is home.”
“My best experience when I visited in 2017 was going by a doubles man and having a doubles…that was the coole
