Alexandr Hackenschmied
Alexandr Hackenschmied, born Alexander Siegfried George Hackenschmied, known later as Alexander Hammid (17 December 1907, Linz – 26 July 2004, New York City) was a Czech-American photographer, film director, cinematographer and film editor. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1938 and became involved in American avant-garde cinema. He is best known for three films: Crisis (1939), Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) and To Be Alive! (1964). He made Meshes of the Afternoon with Maya Deren, to whom he was married from 1942 to 1947. His second marriage was to the photographer Hella Heyman, who had also collaborated with Hammid and Deren on several films.
Alexandr Hackenschmied | |
|---|---|
Alexander Hammid in a screenshot of the short film Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) | |
| Born | 17 December 1907 Linz, Austria |
| Died | 26 July 2004 (aged 96) New York City |
| Nationality | Czech (1907-1942) American (1942-2004) |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, photographer, cinematographer, film editor |
| Spouse | Maya Deren (1942–1947) Hella Hilde Heyman (1948-1992; her death) |
He won the 1965 Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) for To Be Alive! (1964), which he co-directed with Francis Thompson.