Jato Ehijator is an award-winning filmmaker currently based in South Africa. He made his debut into the film world more than 15 year ago at OGD Pictures. When he relocated to South Africa, he started making waves within companies such as INET Media as a Creative Director, and Fiesta Records where he produced a reality TV show called "Make You a Star". He later worked with an NGO to produce a documentary entitled "Walking the Path" which tells the story of people living with disabilities. Jato then branched out on his own and opened Artsy Lens Studio specializing in TV adverts, Movies, Documentaries and Reality shows. Artsy Lens Studio quickly became popular, producing a TV advert for Meditol soap catering for the West African market. Another project close to the Film Maker's heart was producing a short film called Dunoon highlighting issues of women and child abuse within a township in Cape Town. In 2018, he completed a feature film entitled S.A. Girl. The ambitious Director just finalized production of Trafficked--Africa, an action-packed film presenting human trafficking from an African perspective. The film has been well recieved, earning 2 awards at film festivals in the United States. This independent filmmaker is tapping into a niche market by blending elements from western and southern africa with cutting-edge cinematography; to tell African stories for the world in a way that is uniquely African.
Jato Ehijator is an award-winning filmmaker currently based in South Africa. He made his debut into the film world more than 15 year ago at OGD Pictures. When he relocated to South Africa, he started making waves within companies such as INET Media as a Creative Director, and Fiesta Records where he produced a reality TV show called "Make You a Star". He later worked with an NGO to produce a documentary entitled "Walking the Path" which tells the story of people living with disabilities. Jato then branched out on his own and opened Artsy Lens Studio specializing in TV adverts, Movies, Documentaries and Reality shows. Artsy Lens Studio quickly became popular, producing a TV advert for Meditol soap catering for the West African market. Another project close to the Film Maker's heart was producing a short film called Dunoon highlighting issues of women and child abuse within a township in Cape Town. In 2018, he completed a feature film entitled S.A. Girl. The ambitious Director just finalized production of Trafficked--Africa, an action-packed film presenting human trafficking from an African perspective. The film has been well recieved, earning 2 awards at film festivals in the United States. This independent filmmaker is tapping into a niche market by blending elements from western and southern africa with cutting-edge cinematography; to tell African stories for the world in a way that is uniquely African.
Jato has over 15 years of experience in the film industry. This includes Directing three feature films (Trafficked--Africa, SA Girl, and King of Shitta), producing a documentary (Walking the Path) as well as a TV reality series and TV adverts. He is a film creator, seeing the end market from the beginning of the project.
This dynamic and award-winning director of Trafficked--Africa, has just finished a highly successful run on the Film Festival Circuit. This gifted director was featured at 14 festivals over the past year, taking top honors at 5 of the festivals. His accolades include the Audience Award at the Baltimore International Black Film Festival, Best International Feature Film at the Kwanzaa Film Festival in New York City, Best Actress Award at the Knysna Film Festival in South Africa and the Award of Recognition at both the Accolade Film Festival and the IndieFest.
These honors and awards are a testament to the skill, dedication, and professionalism that Jato brings to the set as well as the vision he has for his films. Trafficked--Africa was a labor of love for Jato, based on a happen-chance encounter with a young woman in Cape Town South Africa who was a victim of human trafficking. Jato was touched by her story and used his craft, filmmaking, to bring attention to her story and the story of countless other individuals across the globe.
Jato’s drive, vision, and well-honed directing skills were at the heart of the production and the secret to the success of the film. Developing a well-made film on human trafficking is not a simple task. To make the challenge even greater, Jato chose to film the project in Durban, South Africa, using largely inexperienced actors. Truly an ‘actors’ director’, Jato substantive spent time with his cast and crew working to reach perfection. The results are evident and the awards are a testament to Jato Ehijator’s high caliber skill as a filmmaker.
Jato has over 15 years of experience in the film industry. This includes Directing three feature films (Trafficked--Africa, SA Girl, and King of Shitta), producing a documentary (Walking the Path) as well as a TV reality series and TV adverts. He is a film creator, seeing the end market from the beginning of the project. This dynamic and award-winning director of Trafficked--Africa, has just finished a highly successful run on the Film Festival Circuit. This gifted director was featured at 14 festivals over the past year, taking top honors at 5 of the festivals. His accolades include the Audience Award at the Baltimore International Black Film Festival, Best International Feature Film at the Kwanzaa Film Festival in New York City, Best Actress Award at the Knysna Film Festival in South Africa and the Award of Recognition at both the Accolade Film Festival and the IndieFest. These honors and awards are a testament to the skill, dedication, and professionalism that Jato brings to the set as well as the vision he has for his films. Trafficked--Africa was a labor of love for Jato, based on a happen-chance encounter with a young woman in Cape Town South Africa who was a victim of human trafficking. Jato was touched by her story and used his craft, filmmaking, to bring attention to her story and the story of countless other individuals across the globe. Jato’s drive, vision, and well-honed directing skills were at the heart of the production and the secret to the success of the film. Developing a well-made film on human trafficking is not a simple task. To make the challenge even greater, Jato chose to film the project in Durban, South Africa, using largely inexperienced actors. Truly an ‘actors’ director’, Jato substantive spent time with his cast and crew working to reach perfection. The results are evident and the awards are a testament to Jato Ehijator’s high caliber skill as a filmmaker.