Alan Hirschfield, a former entertainment executive who helped make the 1970s movies "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Taxi Driver," has died. He was 79.
Son Marc Hirschfield says the former chief executive of Columbia Pictures died Thursday at his home in Wilson, Wyoming, of natural causes.
Hirschfield held the post at Columbia from 1973 to 1978 and was chairman of Twentieth Century Fox from 1982 to 1986.
Marc Hirschfield says his father also started Arista Records with music executive Clive Davis.
Hirschfield was ousted at Columbia after he opposed the reinstatement of studio boss David Begelman, who embezzled more than $61,000, on moral grounds.
Hirschfield was born in New York and raised in Oklahoma. He is survived by his wife, Berte, three children, six grandchildren, niece and grand-niece.
Art Directors Club of Europe sets finalists for ADCE Awards 2024
The Art Directors Club of Europe (ADCE) has announced the finalists for the 33rd ADCE Awards, highlighting top creative talent from 22 countries.
An international jury gathered in Barcelona on October 29 and 30 to evaluate the best work of this year in European design and advertising, ultimately selecting the 2024 finalists entries.
Winners of the Gold Awards, along with Special Awards and the Grand Prix, will be unveiled at the ADCE Awards Gala Ceremony on November 22 during the ADCE Festival, while Silver, Bronze, and Shortlisted entries will be published immediately following the Gala on the ADCE website.
A total of 370 entries across 22 European countries have been selected as finalists. Final distinctions will include Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners, as well as special recognitions like the following:
European Star – honoring projects that reflect core European values such as democracy, freedom, justice, and peace.
Genius Loci – celebrating work that captures the spirit of specific places within Europe’s cultural heritage.
Green Star – recognizing projects that advance the circular economy, sustainability, or environmental protection.
Equal Star – rewarding creativity that challenges discrimination and stereotypes, promoting inclusivity.
This year’s ADCE Awards continue to celebrate the creativity, innovation, and values that characterize Europe’s artistic landscape.
The leading countries contributing to this selection include Germany with 108 finalist entries, Spain with 48, Austria with 33, Portugal with 30, Italy with 23, Switzerland with 21 and the U.K. with 20.
The finalists for the ADCE Awards 2024 can be accessed