Over 800 Objects: Estate of Hedy Lamarr Goes to the Film Archive Austria
The future of the Hedy Lamarr estate is secured: As announced by the Filmarchiv Austria on Wednesday, the collection was acquired from the insolvency assets of Signa Holding. The estate, which comprises more than 800 objects, is considered one of the most significant in recent film history.
Estate was part of the failed "Lamarr" project
"With the acquisition of this unique collection, we are tasked with reintegrating this inventory into a cultural context and making it accessible to the public," said Filmarchiv Director Ernst Kieninger. The ideal value cannot be overestimated.
The collection was originally acquired by Signa Holding as part of its luxury department store project "Lamarr" on Mariahilfer Straße. After the insolvency of the real estate group, it was unclear what would happen to the estate. According to the Filmarchiv, the purchase price from the insolvency assets was "significantly below" what the Jewish Museum Vienna and later Signa Holding had previously paid for it. No specific amounts were disclosed.
Largest individual collection in Filmarchiv Austria
With the Lamarr estate, the Filmarchiv Austria expands its collection with a prominent individual collection. After the handover, the collection will be properly cataloged and processed at the Filmarchiv headquarters in Vienna's Augarten. The first exhibition parts are to be shown at the METRO Kinokulturhaus starting in 2026.
The future presentation will also involve members of the Lamarr family and Danielle Spera, former director of the Jewish Museum, who has been advocating for years for the estate to remain in Vienna. Planned are exhibition and presentation projects that honor the actress as an inventor and pioneer of radio technology.
(APA/Red)
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