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Alex Mechanik

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Alex Mechanik
Born (1986-10-18) October 18, 1986 (age 38)
Tampa, Florida
OccupationFilmmaker
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2023)​

Alex Mechanik (born October 18, 1986) is an American filmmaker. For his work on the Todd Haynes drama May December, he was nominated alongside his wife Samy Burch at the 96th Academy Awards.[1]

Early life

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Mechanik was raised in Tampa, Florida.[2] He graduated with a bachelor's degree from New York University Tisch School of the Arts in 2009.[3]

Career

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After graduating from college, Mechanik worked as a production assistant on reality television programs such as The Apprentice. He served on the casting department for features such as Allegiant and Ant-Man, where he is credited as Woody Mechanik.[2]

Mechanik collaborated on a series of short films with his partner, Samy Burch. The pair later collaborated on the screenplay for May December, a 2023 feature directed by Todd Haynes and starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. Mechanik is also an editor for the "Open Door" video series produced by Architectural Digest.[2]

As of early 2024, Mechanik is set to direct a feature film starring O-Lan Jones for Gloria Sanchez Productions, the company that produced May December, based on a script he developed with Burch.[4][2]

Personal life

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While studying at New York University, Mechanik met Samy Burch, with whom he would collaborate on a number of short films as well as the story for May December. The pair married in 2023.[4]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Editor Writer Notes
2013 All You Can Eat Yes Yes Short film;
Co-directed with Samy Burch
2016 Bev Yes No
2017 Crown Prince Yes Yes
2023 May December No Yes Shares "Story by" credit with Samy Burch

Television

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Year Title Notes
2019 – 2020 Gourmet Makes Editor, 2 episodes
2020 – 2024 Architectural Digest Editor, 24 episodes
2024 Almost Already Famous Editor, TV movie

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2014 Slamdance Film Festival Spirit of Slamdance Award The Greggs Won[a] [5]
Best Narrative Short Nominated[a]
2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association Best Original Screenplay May December Runner-up[b] [6][7]
Florida Film Critics Circle Best Original Screenplay Nominated [8]
Golden Orange Runner-up
2024 Columbus Film Critics Association Best Original Screenplay Nominated[b] [9][10]
Online Association of Female Film Critics Best Original Screenplay Runner-up[b] [11]
Austin Film Critics Association Best Original Screenplay Nominated[b] [12]
North Dakota Film Society Best Screenplay Nominated[b] [13]
Portland Critics Association Best Screenplay Nominated[b] [14]
Independent Spirit Awards Best First Screenplay Won[b] [15]
Academy Awards Best Original Screenplay Nominated[b] [16]
Writers Guild of America Awards Best Original Screenplay Nominated[b] [17]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Shared with Brooke Bundy, Nigel DeFriez, Robert Malone, Kira Pearson, Jessie Levandov, and Jonathan Rosenblit
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Shared with cowriter Samy Burch

References

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  1. ^ Magidson, Joey. "Interview: Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik Talk About the 'Coyote vs. Acme' Controversy, Their 'May December' Oscar Nominations, and More!". Awards Radar. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Guzzo, Paul. "Tampa man co-wrote 'May December' starring Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  3. ^ n.a. "2023 Gotham Award Nominees". Tisch School of the Arts. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b Barber, Nicholas. "How 'May December' screenwriters hit the cinematic jackpot with their first produced spec script". Screen Daily. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  5. ^ n.a. "Alex Mechanik - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  6. ^ n.a. "2023 Award Nominees". Indiana Film Journalists Association. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  7. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 17, 2023). "The 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  8. ^ Neglia, Matt. "The 2023 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  9. ^ n.a. "Awards 2023 Nominees". Columbus Film Critics Association. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  10. ^ n.a. "Awards 2023". Columbus Film Critics Association. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  11. ^ n.a. (December 21, 2023). "AWARDS Online Association of Female Film Critics 2023 Awards – Winners". Online Association of Female Film Critics. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  12. ^ Anderson, Erik. "Austin Film Critics Association Nominations (AFCA): 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' 'Oppenheimer' Lead with 10 Each". AwardsWatch. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 15, 2024). "The 2023 North Dakota Film Society (NDFS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  14. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 15, 2024). "The 2023 Portland Critics Association (PCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  15. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 5, 2023). "Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations: Best Feature 'American Fiction', 'May December', 'All Of Us Strangers', 'Passages', 'Past Lives' & 'We Grown Now' — Live". Deadline. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  16. ^ Gonzalez, Shivani (January 23, 2024). "Oscar Nominees 2024". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  17. ^ n.a. "2024 Writers Guild Awards Nominees". Writers Guild of America. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
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