“A very very sad day ... Producer ANDY VAJNA, the man that Made Rambo happened, died today… LOVED this man’s courage - a pioneer. Believed In making FIRST BLOOD when no one else did.…This truly breaks my heart. Rip”
Sylvester Stallone
“Vajna defined what would become known as the ‘big action picture’. He really has a wide range of talent and ability.”
Tim Warner, general chairman of film company NATO / ShoWest
“Andy Vajna was a great friend and collaborator. He believed in me on one of my toughest shoots, Terminator 2. I will miss him, his humor, class and style, but especially the motorcycle rides.”
James Cameron
“When Andy gives you his word, you know it’s good. And no matter how tough the going gets, you can count on him. He’s got nerves of steel.”
Joe Roth, chairman, Walt Disney Motion Picture Group
“You can’t make an actor act. You have got to create an atmosphere he wants to perform. It can be hell.”
Andrew G. Vajna
“He’s got great respect for the director and courage to do projects that aren’t so easy… He won’t let you down; you can trust him.”
Paul Verhoeven, director of Total Recall
“He’s one of the few people around with the balls to play with his own money. His word carries a lot of weight. He’s personally out on the line. It’s always given me a lot of respect for him. Andy is always involved. He’s your partner or your boss, but he offers guidance as opposed to instructions… He approaches business in a sort of family style. He keeps the same friends for 30 years, and that’s kind of remarkable.”
John McTiernan, director of Medicine Man and Die Hard With a Vengeance
“I decided to learn something that I could do no matter where I lived – I became a hairdresser. I chose hairdressing because it is a useful skill and one that I could always go back to. Knowing this gave me great security and the freedom to explore other avenues.”
Andrew G. Vajna
“The profession is never boring. I have found the interesting things in everything I have ever done. So none of my occupations ever seemed like work.”
Andrew G. Vajna
“Working with Andy was the best experience of my career and he makes the world’s greatest bouillabaisse.”
Steven de Souza, screenwriter Judge Dredd
“We’re glad to be a part of your lifetime.”
Bruce Willis and Demi Moore to Andy when he received NATO/ShoWest Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995
“I fell in love in love with Andy the moment I met him, because for once I’d met a Hungarian in Hollywood who was not only more successful than I was, but also crazier.”
Joe Eszterhas
“Andy doesn’t compare to anybody else in this business. Andy is unique, he’s independent; he’s a rare blend of entrepreneur and film maker. He puts his money on the line time and time again, and he’s won as big as anyone in this town. You’ve got to admire somebody like that.”
Jeffrey Katzenberg, Dream Works SKG Partner
“Andy Vajna was a dear friend and a revolutionary force in Hollywood. He proved that you don’t need studios to make huge movies like Terminator 2 or Total Recall. He had a huge heart, and he was one of the most generous guys around. I’ll miss him.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger
“When you work with Andy, the buck stops with him. I don’t deal with anybody else. It becomes very much Andy’s movie, one singer, one song.”
Danny Cannon, director of Judge Dread
State awards
March 2010 - In honour of Hungary’s national holiday, the highest ranking Orders of Merit of the Hungarian Republic were proposed by Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai and honored by László Sólyom the President of Hungary in recognition of the outstanding work in creating Freedom’s Fury.
FREEDOM’S FURY looks at the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and the politicized water polo match between Hungary and the Soviets at the Melbourne Olympics, now known as the "Bloodiest Game in Olympic History". The battle in the pools of Australia and the larger battle for Hungarian freedom in 1956 are powerfully explored in the film. The emotional heart of the story is the incredible journey of a group of Hungarian athletes who carry the torch of freedom for their brutalized nation all the way to the summer Olympics.
Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (civil) was given to:
Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (civil) was given to:
Officers’ Cross Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary was given to:
In 2006 Colin Keith Gray (director) and Megan Raney Aarons (director) known collectively as The Sibs, were awarded with the Knight's Cross Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary for Freedom’s Fury.
October 1996 – Vajna was awarded with the Officers’ Cross Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary honored by Prime Minister Gyula Horn and he also get the Golden Butterfly Tribute to Excellence on the occasion of Global Hungarian film industry meeting.
Film awards
2016 – 16th Hungarian Film Festival of Los Angeles - Michael Curtiz Award: Children of Glory - Audience Favorite
2010 – 10th Hungarian Film Festival of Los Angeles – Lifetime Achievement Award
2002 – Andrew G. Vajna – Christopher Awards
1997 – Evita - Golden Globe - Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
1995 – Die Hard with a Vengeance - EDI Worldwide Reel - Highest Grossing Picture of the Year
1995 – NATO/ShoWest Lifetime Achievement Award
1992 – Terminator 2: Judgement Day - 18th People's Choice Awards - Favorite Motion Picture
1991 – Total Recall - British Videogram Awards - Action and adventure video to Total Recall
1986 – Rambo First Blood Part 2. – 18th People's Choice Awards - Favorite Motion Picture (nominated in TOP3)
1985 – Rambo First Blood Part 2. – The Golden Reel Award Certificate nomination
1982 – Rambo First Blood (Part 1.) - The Golden Reel Award Certificate
Other
Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences
Emanuel Foundation for Hungarian Culture - Holocaust Memorial Builder Award
Díjnyertes filmek és fontosabb jelölések
Saturn Award
45th British Academy Film Awards
18th People's Choice Awards
64th Academy Awards
1992 MTV Movie Awards