The Necklace” Director Relaunches Film Career Under a New Name
Acclaimed filmmaker Peter Halmi is embarking on the next chapter of his career under a new name: Peter Korday
Adopting an artistic name is nothing unusual in the film world. For Korday, the decision was both practical and principled. Known for his award-winning short Le Collier (The Necklace), the director chose to change his name to avoid confusion with a well-known documentary filmmaker of a similar name.
“There had already been mix-ups because of the similarity, so I felt it was necessary,” Korday explains. While the name is currently an artistic pseudonym, he plans to make it official in the future. “At festivals, in contracts, and in professional networks, it’s simply easier if my surname is clear.”
Why Korday?
The name pays homage to one of Hungary’s legendary contributions to cinema: Alexander Korda (Korda Sándor), the pioneering Hungarian-born producer-director whose influence still resonates in Hollywood.
“This connection inspired me,” Korday says. “My family and friends understood immediately. When I shifted from a singing career to filmmaking years ago, they were more skeptical. Now they’re proud of our successes, and the name change raised no objections. It also feels like the right fit — Hollywood was, after all, the place where I was first drawn deeply into the world of film.”
That turning point came in 2012, when Korday was invited to Los Angeles and spent several weeks in the former Hollywood Hills villa of three-time Oscar winner Frank Capra. The Italian-born Capra is remembered for classics such as It Happened One Night (1934), You Can’t Take It With You (1938), and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) — films admired by giants like David Lynch, Akira Kurosawa, and Steven Spielberg.
Los Angeles left a lasting imprint on Korday. He worked there continuously until 2016 and was later honored with the title “Honorary California Ambassador of Hungarian Culture,” presented by then-Consul General László Kálmán.
A Mystical Drama Born from Personal Healing
Alongside the name change comes a new feature film, co-created with internationally recognized actress-producer Kristina Lorent Goztola. Their mystical drama, A Gentle Floating Across the Fields of Spheres, delves into the concealed details of a tragic accident, rooted in personal experience.
Originally written as a private, therapeutic text, the story gradually evolved — under Korday’s vision and with the support of a French production company — into a cinematic work.
“Kristina and I share Hollywood in our personal histories,” Korday recalls. “For years, we worked as filmmakers in the same circles around Los Angeles, unaware of each other. We couldn’t have guessed that later we’d be creating a film together.”
Source by blikk