Deborah Oppenheimer

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). The film was written and directed by Mark Jonathan Harris, released by Warner Bros., and made with the cooperation of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Judi Dench narrated. Following its theatrical release, it appeared on HBO and PBS.

Deborah Oppenheimer
Born
Deborah Oppenheimer
OccupationFilm/TV producer/Author

In 2014, Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation for all time in the National Film Registry.

Oppenheimer co-wrote the teacher’s study guide and co-authored with Harris the film’s companion book of the same name by Bloomsbury Publishing (2000; reissued 2018). It has a preface by Richard Attenborough and an introduction by historian David Cesarani. The film returned to HBO in May 2019.

Oppenheimer’s feature-length documentary, FOSTER, presented by Participant and Emerson Collective, premiered theatrically and on HBO in May 2019 during Foster Care Awareness Month. Reunited with writer/director Harris and several of the award-winning production team from Into the Arms of Strangers, the film is a revealing first-hand look at the complex foster care system as seen through the eyes of those who know it best. In November 2019, the National Council for Adoption presented the film with its Excellence in Foster Care Media Award. The film received a nomination for the 2020 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Documentary Screenplay. One of the film's subjects, Mrs. Earcylene Beavers, was recognized in November 2019 as an Angel in America by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute at their annual Angels in Adoption Hill Day. She was nominated for the honor by Congressmember Karen Bass.

Oppenheimer conceived and led U.S. strategies and was production consultant to the Carnival Films television series, Downton Abbey, during its complete run. The series was executive produced by Gareth Neame and written by Julian Fellowes. Downton Abbey is the most nominated non-U.S. show in history and the highest rated PBS drama ever.

As Executive Vice President of Carnival Films, Oppenheimer developed and executive produced Christopher Guest’s Family Tree (TV series) for HBO and BBC1, starring Chris O'Dowd.

As President of Bruce Helford’s Mohawk Productions at Warner Bros., Oppenheimer executive produced hundreds of episodes of television shows starring Drew Carey, George Lopez, Wanda Sykes, Norm Macdonald, Bernie Mac, Will Ferrell, Jurnee Smollett, and Pamela Adlon and worked with development partners including Sandra Bullock, Kenya Barris, Stephanie Savage, McG, and more.

Oppenheimer was associate producer for the Cable ACE Award-winning production of the Showtime / PBS drama, Master Harold...and the Boys, written by Athol Fugard, produced by Michael Brandman, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, and starring Tony-award winning actors John Kani, Matthew Broderick, and Zakes Mokae.

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

References
    • "Cinematic Treasures Named to National Film Registry". Library of Congress. December 17, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
    • “Foster: HBO Acquires Worldwide Rights to Deborah Oppenheimer & Mark Jonathan Harris’ Documentary” .
    • "HBO Documentary Films acquires Mark Jonathan Harris’ “Foster” .
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