PGA Awards Debra Hill Fellowship to NYU Stern and Tisch Alum Karen Madar

The Producers Guild of America has awarded its 2024 Debra Hill Fellowship to Karen Madar, a recent graduate of NYU Stern and Tisch.

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Madar has produced a number of shorts since she graduated with a dual MBA and MFA from NYU Stern and Tisch. the short film “Skin Can Breathe,” from director Chheangkea, won a kudo from HBO for Asian Pacific American Visionaries competition. “Let,” from director Alyssa Loh, was an official SXSW selection for 2024. She is working with Chheangkea on an upcoming feature film, “Little Phnom Penh,” among other projects.

“Since 2005, the PGA has been committed to honoring Debra Hill’s legacy by encouraging and
cultivating the next generation of producers and executives,” said Producers Guild of America CEO Susan Sprung. “Throughout her career, Debra was dedicated to mentoring producers. We are incredibly proud that Deniese and Lucienne, who previously received the Fellowship and have gone on to have successful producing careers, are carrying on her legacy by chairing the selection process of the Debra Hill Fellowship.”

Hill was the producer and co-writer with John Carpenter of 1978’s “Halloween,” which became one of the most successful independent films of all time. She died in March 2005 at the age of 54.

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As part of the fellowship award, Madar will receive a $5,000 stipend and a $2,500 travel credit from Delta Airlines.

Madar’s award was presented by producers Deniese Davis and Lucienne Papon, who are chairs of the PGA’s Debra Hill Fellowship Committee.

(Pictured: Lucienne Papon, Karen Madar, Deniese Davis and Susan Sprung)

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