BUDAPEST, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian-born American film producer Andy Vajna, the government commissioner responsible for the development of the national film industry, was buried here Thursday, according to official sources.
At the request of the family, the funeral was not public. An old friend of Vajna, Arnold Schwarzenegger gave a speech at the ceremony. The Hollywood star arrived at the cemetery shortly before the arrival of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
According to Hungarian news agency MTI, about 200-300 people were invited to the event. The security measures were very strict, photographers and journalists were stopped at the entrance to the cemetery, and the cars were examined with dogs.
Among the participants were Oscar-Winning Hungarian film director Istvan Szabo, several members of the Hungarian government, officials of the National Film Foundation and many celebrities of the local media industry.
Schwarzenegger told: "I liked Andy Vajna very much and I appreciated him very much. His was a great immigrant story."
"Andy always had a vision, and nothing was ever impossible for him. He was the most heartfelt man who did anything for a friend, he did everything for me, and there was nothing I wouldn't have done for him," he added.
He said that Vajna wanted to "give back to Hungary," and through his work, a flourishing film industry has been created in Hungary, creating thousands of jobs.
Vajna died at the age of 74 at his Budapest home on Jan. 20.
He was one of the world's most prestigious producers. As a producer, 59 films are associated with his name, including world-renowned and acclaimed works such as the Rambo Films, Die Hard, Angel Heart, Terminator, Evita or Jacob's Ladder, among others.
As a government commissioner, he has been working for the Hungarian film industry since 2011, and under his direction the Hungarian film has risen to the forefront of the world, according to a statement.
After the consolidation of the film support system, he was responsible for the creation of the Hungarian National Film Fund, and responsible for such great Hungarian films as The son of Saul, which earned the Oscar for best foreign film in 2016.
