Max Hechtman is a New York-based filmmaker with experience producing short narrative and documentary films. He grew up in East Meadow and attended the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Film and Media in 2019. He is motivated to use the art of film to bring attention to issues that challenge his and other generations, through subject matter and stories that are relatable and impact our lives.
Max's films have been selected for screening at film festivals, nationally, including "Stories of Strength and Hope: Preventing Youth Suicide", which won Best Documentary at the 2019 Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE), which was inspired by his seeing "Dear Evan Hansen" on Broadway and a Middle School assembly given by suicide prevention advocate, John Halligan. The documentary covers the subject matter from the perspectives of the family, clinician, someone with a lived experience and the media, and features interviews with Halligan, whose son, Ryan, committed suicide at age 13; nationally-recognized child and adolescent psychiatrist Harold Koplewicz, President of the Child Mind Institute and Meryl Cassidy, Executive Director of the Suffolk County Response Crisis Center.
"FIT Hives: Sustainability - The Secret to Survival," which won the Eco Sustainable Award from Fashion Film Festival Chicago, was made as part of an Innovation Fund grant from the Clinton Global Initiative. The documentary, which also screened at the Chelsea Film Festival and NewFilmmakers NY, was produced to educate the FIT community about the importance of bees to the environment, the use of bee-derived resources in the majors taught at the college and the installation of beehives on the roof.
Max's senior thesis film, "Abigail," which was an ambitious undertaking, touches on the controversial and complicated topic of end-of-life decision-making, as well as grief and loss. The film was named a quarterfinalist in Stage 32's 5th Annual Short Film Contest and won the Audience Award at the 2020 edition of LIIFE, where it was also nominated for Best Short Film, Best Long Island Short Film and Best Director. The film is currently seeking distribution.
In 2020, Max served as the visual designer and trailer editor for Bálint Varga's audiobook, "d'ILLUSION: The Houdini Musical," which was released on its website and different social media and streaming media platforms on August 2020. Max also produced a documentary about the making of the audiobook, which was released on December 10, 2020.
As of January 2024, Max is in the early stages of writing his first original narrative feature film, tentatively titled "The Lens Within Me."
In addition to filmmaking, Max has been working as a professional video editor for the past five years. He hopes to continue his work in production and post-production and pursue film projects, including short and feature-length narratives and documentaries that get people to think, question and open conversations about subjects that are difficult, but can lead to change and positive outcomes. Max is also an avid enthusiast of musical theater and a personal goal of his is to adapt Broadway shows for film.