Alexander Hammid, born Alexandr Hackenschmied (1907-2004), was a Czech-American photographer, cinematographer, editor, and director, a prominent figure in avant-garde and documentary cinema. He began his career in the 1930s in Czechoslovakia, becoming a key exponent of the local avant-garde movement. After emigrating to the United States, he gained recognition for his collaboration with Maya Deren, with whom he co-directed the influential experimental film *Meshes of the Afternoon* (1943), for which he also served as cinematographer. Subsequently, his career shifted toward documentary filmmaking, working for the U.S. Office of War Information and the United Nations. His work in this field earned him major awards, including the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for co-directing *To Be Alive!* (1965). His body of work is celebrated for its technical precision and innovative visual style, which have influenced generations of filmmakers.