Andras Hamori, Producer of ‘The Sweet Hereafter’ and ‘eXistenZ,’ Dies at 71

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As a devoted fan of the captivating world of cinema, I have always been moved by the stories that unfold behind the scenes as much as those portrayed on screen. The recent passing of Andras Hamori, a titan in the film industry, has left an indelible void in my heart and in the annals of cinematic history.

Hungarian film and television producer Andras Hamori, known for collaborating on projects like Atom Egoyan’s “The Sweet Hereafter,” István Szabó’s “Sunshine,” and David Cronenberg’s “eXistenZ,” has passed away at the age of 71.

My friend Mia Taylor shared the sad news that Hamori passed away on September 2 in Budapest, following a prolonged illness that had kept him from work during the past few years.

In my fan-filled journey, I, being a Toronto-based professional early in my career and a partner at Alliance Entertainment, have had the privilege to steer some captivating productions. Among these, I’ve guided the chilling horror classic “The Gate” (1987), featuring Stephen Dorff in his breakthrough role; Stephen Frears’ romantic drama “Chéri” (2009) with Michelle Pfeiffer; and the 2014 History Channel miniseries “Houdini,” graced by Adrien Brody.

1997’s “The Sweet Hereafter” was a film that gained recognition with Oscar nominations for Best Director and Adapted Screenplay. Its narrative centers around a tragic bus accident in a small Canadian town, claiming the lives of 14 young students.

1999’s film “Sunshine” narrated the tale of a Jewish family spanning multiple generations, unfolding against the historical landscape of Hungary. The movie featured Ralph Fiennes, earned three nominations at the Golden Globes, and clinched Canada’s Genie Award for the best picture.

Following their collaboration on the 1996 film “Crash,” Hamori joined forces with renowned Canadian director Cronenberg once more for the production of “eXistenZ” (1999). In this film, Jennifer Jason Leigh portrayed a character who found herself ensnared in a perilous video game that she had personally developed.

Hamori was born on the 17th of July, 1953, in Budapest, being the sole child of Sandor and Zsuzsa, a Jewish pair who managed to survive the Nazi rule over Hungary and found each other post-World War II.

In the 1970s, he worked as a film critic and produced short films, but his dream was to become a movie producer. The Hungarian-Canadian theater director John Hirsch inspired him to move to Toronto, and in 1981, he decided to leave his old life behind and took up residence in Hirsch’s basement.

In Toronto, he collaborated with Hungarian producer Robert Lantos and eventually took on a partnership role at Alliance.

Afterward, Hamori relocated to Los Angeles to establish H2O Motion Pictures. Upon achieving his dream of becoming a producer, he later returned to Hungary and filmed various projects within his homeland. Occasionally, he even made an appearance as an actor in some of his own movies.

His filmography encompasses “The Magic Hunter” (1994) directed by Ildikó Enyedi, “Morvern Callar” (2002) by Lynne Ramsay, “Max” (2002) featuring John Cusack, “Owning Mahowny” (2003) starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Fateless” (2005) directed by Lajos Koltai, “Fugitive Pieces” (2007) with Rosamund Pike, and “Formula 51” (2001) and “The Samaritan” (2012), both starring Samuel L. Jackson.

Survivors include his children, Chloe, Ben and Jake.

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2024-11-12 19:24