The amateur filmmaker whose only famous work was sold by his heirs in 1999 for $16 million was named Martin Manulis.
The amateur filmmaker in question is the Frenchman Georges Méliès. Méliès was a pioneer in the early days of cinema and is known for his innovative use of special effects in his films, including the first ever science fiction film, "A Trip to the Moon" (1902). Méliès' films were hugely influential in the development of film as an art form, but unfortunately, he fell out of favor with audiences and went bankrupt in the 1910s. After his death in 1938, his heirs discovered a large collection of his films, including "A Trip to the Moon", which was subsequently restored and re-released to great acclaim. In 1999, a hand-painted print of the film was sold at auction for $16 million.
~~~Harsha~~~