The HFBK Hamburg mourns the death of Professor Udo A. Engel
It is with great dismay that the Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg announces that filmmaker and professor of animated film Udo A. Engel passed away after a short serious illness on March 18, 2023.
Udo A. Engel studied Visual Communication / Film at the HFBK Hamburg from 1977 to 1983 and subsequently worked for many years as a freelance filmmaker and animated cameraman in the film industry. In addition, he made a name for himself as an expert in photographic special effects and optical combination techniques for the second unit of numerous feature films, documentaries and animated films and was responsible for the image design in music clips and commercials.
In April 2008 he was appointed to the professorship for animation film at the HFBK Hamburg. In his teaching, he advocated a concept that encompassed the medium of film in its entirety, questioning genre-related boundaries and thus including work on feature films, documentaries and experimental films in equal measure.
His love of film stood above all else. He shared his profound knowledge of film history, his expertise in the field of both animated film and filmic material at all times, even in interdisciplinary contexts. Just as he was always a close contact person, a committed advisor and an attentive listener to the students, he continuously championed the interests of the major in film with vigor and expertise at the level of committee work.
Udo A. Engel was a wonderful professor, colleague, friend and film connoisseur whose unexpected death leaves a deep gap at the university.
The funeral for Udo Engel will take place on April 5th, 2023 at 2 p.m. at the Ohlsdorf Cemetery in the Fritz-Schumacher-Halle.