Bleecker Street founder Andrew Karpen dies aged 59

On the eve of Cannes, founder and CEO of Bleeker Street in devastating news Stubborns of independent communities Andrew Carpen died of a brain tumor. He was 59 years old.

Karpen was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2024 and died Monday in a Connecticut hospital.

“Our industry has lost a giant. Andrew has taught us so much. To do that, kindness, sincerity and family value are more than anything else,” said longtime friend Kent Sanderson of Bleeker Street.

The popular East Coast native founded Bleeker Street in 2014, leading the company through the pandemic, Hollywood strikes and the upheaval of streaming. He was an enthusiastic and resourceful figure throughout, and was a regular face on Cannes and the festival circuit.

Born April 18, 1966, Carpen attended Washington University in St. Louis and received his financial MBA from NYU Stern Business School.

He began his career at Miramax in New York and served at Oxygen Media as SVP Finance & Planning. Karpen joined the Focus feature in 2002, and became president in 2006, then co-CEO. Among his many duties, he assumed administrative responsibilities for Focus Feature International.

Focus feature president Peter Kuzowski said, “Andrew’s passing was not only a loss to the filmmakers who defended his career, but for all of us who had the privilege of working with him and calling him a friend, his humanity, kindness and calm spirit were the inspiration for those who spent time with him.

Alison Thompson worked with Karpen to be co-president of Focus Feature International. “It’s heartbreaking to see some really good people leaving us early,” Thompson said. Andrew was a dear friend and colleague. He was a wise, inspirational leader and a loyal colleague who found everyone’s time regardless of the title of the job. He wore a heart on his sleeves, loved practical jokes, and was a man of family in every sense of the word.

Oscar nominated James Shamas Brokeback mountain Producer and co-writer Crouching tiger, hidden dragon When Karpen was promoted to CE-CEO, Who, CEO of Focus Feature, shared a letter he sent to Karpen on his diagnosis day. The extract is written as follows: “What’s on paper can’t give a slight idea to the algorithm about who you really are. Undergraduate business degree, MBA, suburban Connecticut commute, insane giant fandom, almost parody skeetot and mountain viking tight knit knit nuclear family, thin linebacker metabolicism of thin linebackers This day hugs what’s really left of an independent American film business.

Bleecker Street has released more than 75 movies since its release, including recent titles such as Tiff Selections friend Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, David McKenzie relay With Liz Ahmed The difficult truth From Mike Lee and Guy Madine’s Cannes 2024 entry rumorAndrew Anne’s Sundance Premiere Wedding banquet.

The company continues to expand its remittance with such things From the darkness And in the future Third parent. Later this summer, Bleaker will release a mock sequel to Rob Reiner Spine Tap II: The end continues After re-releasing Reiner’s original 1984 Cult Classic This is a spinal faucet. For many years, release slate has been included Titles like Do not leave traces, Captain Fantastic, Trumbo, Golda, assistant, and Sterling Girl.