Bleecker Street CEO and indie film champion Andrew Karpen dies at 59
As a passionate cinephile, I’m deeply saddened to share that Andrew Karpen, the visionary CEO and founder of Bleecker Street Media, an esteemed independent film distribution company, passed away on Monday following his battle with glioblastoma – a rare and formidable type of brain cancer. He was 59 years old.
Karpen established Bleecker Street, a film production company based in New York City, in 2014 with financial support from Manoj Bhargava, the creator of 5-hour Energy. In its initial years, Bleecker Street unveiled movies like “Trumbo,” which came out in 2015 and featured Bryan Cranston and Helen Mirren, as well as “Captain Fantastic” (2016), starring Viggo Mortensen.
For over two decades, Bleecker Street has been responsible for distributing over 75 motion pictures. These include “Logan Lucky,” a 2017 Steven Soderbergh comedy, the 2024 Oscar-nominated film “Golda,” the comedy-drama “Hard Truths,” and most recently, “The Wedding Banquet,” a remake of the 1993 Ang Lee romantic comedy featuring Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, and Kelly Marie Tran.
In a statement, Kent Sanderson, president of Bleecker Street and a long-time friend of Andrew Karpen, said: “Andrew was a colossus in our industry. He taught us many things, but what stands out the most is his emphasis on kindness, honesty, and family values above everything else. His leadership and bravery will continue to inspire us at Bleecker Street for years to come. We are committed to preserving his love for cinema and carrying forward his legacy.
As a seasoned film critic, I’ve had the privilege of navigating through the intricate world of movie production across various studios throughout my career. My journey commenced at Miramax, where I honed my skills as a budding professional. Subsequently, I found myself at Oxygen Media, ascending to the position of Senior Vice President of Finance and Planning.
After an enriching stint there, I embarked on a more than decade-long adventure with Focus Features, the distinguished specialty film division of NBCUniversal. Initially starting as its Chief Operating Officer, I was entrusted with overseeing finance, strategic planning, and operations. Over time, I rose through the ranks to become President, and later Co-Chief Executive, a testament to my dedication and commitment to this captivating industry.
In 2013, he parted ways with Focus Features when Universal Pictures appointed a new leader for their specialty division and moved their headquarters from New York City to their studio lot in California. At the time, Universal mentioned that they had invited Karpen to continue working with them, but he chose to remain in New York, staying close to his family instead.
He leaves behind his wife Pam, as well as his sons Josh and Zachary, daughter Sloan, and Kristen – Josh’s wife – who is pregnant with their first child.
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2025-04-30 00:01