Sal Mallimo

Sal Mallimo:

Writer, Animator, Filmmaker.

After graduating from Freeport High School in 1967, Sal continued his education at the Film School, School of Visual Arts, NYC, graduating in 1970. Sal honed a distinctive style as an artist, heavily influenced by the dreamlike imagery and unexpected juxtapositions of surrealist painters Salvador Dali and Giorgio De Chirico. This unique style lent his films a captivating and intriguing quality. His second film of a trilogy, Mio Mondo, earned him the Gold medal award in 1970 at the Atlanta Film Festival. In 1972, Sal was invited to screen Mio Mondo at the prestigious Zagreb International Film Festival. His first animated film, A Time to Live, A Time to Dream, A Time to Die, produced in 1968, received a second-place finish at the 1969 First Esquire Magazine College Film Festival. Sal began animating War With Myself that same year, a twelve-minute animation film that symbolizes a person's need to change for the better. The film was eventually scored by his son, Salvatore Michael. As an author, Sal was influenced by Ernest Hemingway and Eli Siegel, the American Poet, Critic, and founder of the Philosophical Education, Aesthetic Realism.

Sal published three books:

Piccolo Santino, or My Calabrian Childhood, in the '50s Then to New York Italian Style, is a profoundly personal account of Sal's early life in Italy and his coming to America. Published in 2019, it offers a unique perspective on the immigrant experience and creates a personal and historical memoir, inviting readers to empathize with Sal's cultural transition and personal growth. This personal touch makes the book deeply engaging for anyone interested in immigrant stories.

A Walk in Time, Poetry from Real Life about Love and Death, finalist in the 2022 Pacific Book Awards, is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and courage themes. This fascinating compilation uses original art, etchings, and photographs to depict heart-rending events. Published in 2021, it is a testament to the emotional depth of Sal's poetry, which is sure to resonate with readers on a profound level.

Water, Light, and A Door, a Bilingual Book of Poetry, is a multilingual collection of philosophical poems with original photographs written in English/Italian, English/Spanish, and English/French. Published in 2023, it is a culmination of Sal's lifelong exploration of language and culture and deep appreciation for the interplay between words and images. Each poem in this collection is accompanied by a photograph, creating a unique and immersive reading experience.

War With Myself and Piccolo Santino are two-lifetime projects that Sal embarked on in 1970 and tirelessly worked on until their completion in 2020. In conclusion, Piccolo Santino and the three films beautifully complement each other, a testament to Sal's unwavering dedication to his artistic vision.

Sal enjoyed a 35-year film career in film animation in NYC and operated his animation studio, Mimondo Productions, Ltd., from 1982 to 2005. He taught traditional animation methods with Claymation from 1992 to 2008 at The Joe Kubert School, Dover, NJ.

While writing a two-season miniseries based on the book Piccolo Santino Sal produced a five minute autobiographical video as a possible trailer.