Deborah Oppenheimer is an American film and television producer. She won an Academy Award in 2001 for best documentary feature for producing Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport (2000).[1] Oppenheimer co-authored a companion book for the film with Mark Jonathan Harris, and also produced the film's soundtrack.[2]

Biography edit

Deborah Oppenheimer was born and raised in Valley Stream, New York.[3] After graduating from Valley Stream South High School,[3] she matriculated to Buffalo State University where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in English secondary education.[4][5][6]

She started as an editor for John Wiley & Sons before moving into television at Lorimar Productions in 1981.[2] While at Lorimar, Oppenheimer was associate producer for the Cable ACE Award-winning production of the Showtime / PBS drama Master Harold...and the Boys.[6]

As president of Mohawk Productions at Warner Bros. from 1996 to 2010, Oppenheimer executive produced all of the company's television shows and oversaw day-to-day operations.[2] After leaving Mohawk, she was named executive vice-president of NBC Universal International TV Production in September 2010.[7]

As Executive Vice President of Carnival Films, Oppenheimer developed and executive produced the television series Family Tree for HBO and BBC1. She later conceived and led U.S. strategies as a production consultant to the Carnival Films television series, Downton Abbey.[8]

In December 2016, she was selected to be a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council by US President Barack Obama.[9][10]

Her feature-length documentary, Foster received the National Council for Adoption's "Excellence in Foster Care Media Award" in November 2019.[11]

Awards and recognition edit

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Notes
2000 Heartland Film Festival Crystal Heart Award Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport Won Shared with Mark Jonathan Harris
International Documentary Association Video Source Award Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport Nominated Shared with Mark Jonathan Harris
2001 Academy Award Best Documentary, Feature Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport Won Shared with Mark Jonathan Harris
Evening Standard British Film Awards Best Documentary, Feature Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport Won Shared with Mark Jonathan Harris
Long Island International Film Expo Filmmaker Achievement Award Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport Won

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Angulo, Sandra P. (March 26, 2001). "See the complete list of Oscar winners". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Schneider, Michael (February 6, 2003). "Mohawk chief stays". Variety. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Distinguished Alumni Award Program: Deborah Oppenheimer" (PDF). Valley Stream Central High School District and Village of Valley Stream. May 17, 2002. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  4. ^ Kaiser, Laurie (October 13, 2021). "Oscar-Winning Alumna Deborah Oppenheimer Coming to Buffalo State for Screening of New Documentary". Buffalo State University. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  5. ^ Moran, Jay (October 18, 2021). "Academy Award-winning producer returns to Buffalo State". WBFO. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "2005 Commencement Buffalo State University" (PDF). Buffalo State University. May 14, 2005. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 9, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  7. ^ Schneider, Michael (September 29, 2010). "NBC U Int'l TV unit taps exec veepee". Variety. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  8. ^ Whittock, Jesse (August 15, 2013). "Oppenheimer to helm Carnival US push". Television Business International. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  9. ^ "President Obama Appoints Four to U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council" (Press release). United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. December 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  10. ^ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts" (Press release). White House Office of the Press Secretary. December 29, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  11. ^ Koch, Lauren (November 14, 2019). "National Council For Adoption Celebrates 2019 Adoption Award Honorees" (Press release). National Council for Adoption. Retrieved December 1, 2023.

General edit

External links edit