He was a respected film director, and Bleecker Street Media founder Andrew Karpen died Monday. He is 59 years old.

Karpen, an easy-going fixture for independent film scenes, was diagnosed with glioblastoma (a form of brain cancer) in 2024. Before launching Bleecker Street in 2014, Karpen previously served as co-CEO of Focus Features for more than a decade.

"Our industry has lost giants," Kent Sanderson, president of Bleecker Street and longtime friend of Karpen, said in a statement. "Andrew has taught us all, and above all, the value of kindness, honesty and family.

On Bleecker Street, Karpen oversees the release of 75 films, including "trumbo" and "fantastain fantastic," which earned Oscar nominations for performances by Bryan Cranston and Viggo Mortensen. The company also released Arthouse box office for the Helen Mirren thriller Eyes, Steven Soderbergh’s robbery comedy “Logan Lucky” and Blythe Danner Danner’s romantic drama “I Will See You in Dreams”. Several of Bleecker's films all have themes, such as the school shooting drama Mass.

Recent versions of Bleecker include "rumors" which include ensemble cast members including Cate Blanchett and Alicia Vikander. Apart from "Hard Truth", BAFTA, Gotham and Spirit Awards Mike Leigh starred Marianne Jean-Baptiste. This month, the company released a "wedding banquet",,,,,Director Andrew Ahn starred Lily Gladstone, Bowen Yang, Joan Chen and Yuh-jung Yen.

Karpen is a sports enthusiast who is deeply loyal to fans of the New York Giants as well as country music. He is also a family member and he is more interested in telling about the achievements of his children than talking about the latest film commercial dramas.

Capone is recognized type Last October, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bleecker Street. He said he was "not only honored to be here. I'm lucky this year." He said the news of getting his diagnosis was "destructive", but he thanked his doctor, wife Pam and their children for helping him through the tough months. “As I can see here, nothing is impossible.”

“Our company is going to take these stories and try to push them into a grand cultural stage,” Capone continued during the event. “Because we are together as we share our stories with each other.”

Karpen started his industry career at Miramax Films, where he served as Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations, before taking executive positions at Sunbow Entertainment, Independent Pictures and Oxygen Media. He received his MBA from the Leonard N. Stern Business of Business of Business of Business of Business of New York Universities and received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Washington School of Business. Karpen is a trustee of BAFTA in New York and a member of the School of Film Arts and Sciences.

In addition to his wife Pam, Karpen survived by his sons Josh and Zack, as well as his daughter Sloan and Josh's wife Kristen, who is looking forward to the couple's first child.

The family will appreciate the donation given to Lenox Mountain Brain Tumor Center or Fairfield County Hospice Home in the name of Karpen.

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