KARIN CHIEN is an award-winning, international producer and distributor of independent media. Karin is committed to bold voices and innovative forms that build radical practices of ethical filmmaking.

Karin is the founder & president of the global production company Art & Action, co-founder & president of distribution company dGenerate Films, director of the artist retreat Nevada City Film Festival Residency, and a founding member of the collective Distribution Advocates.

Recent recognition includes: 2023 Color Congress Distribution Keynote speaker, 2022 Sundance Producers Keynote speaker, Independent Spirit Producer’s Award, Cinereach Producing Award, the Humanitas Prize, and a Special Recognition for Distribution from the New York Film Critics Circle.

PRODUCER

Karin produces work that spans feature films, nonfiction, video games, publishing, and artwork.

Karin's producing credits include Cannes Official Selection MAN IN BLACK, Sundance Audience winner CIRCUMSTANCE, Tribeca Best Director winner STONES IN THE SUN, Tribeca Best Actress winner THE EXPLODING GIRL, Humanitas Prize winner THE MOTEL and winner of 35 festival awards ROBOT STORIES.

Karin helped launch MasterClass as its founding producer and later spearheaded its growth of global production.

Karin has produced artwork for major institutions and produced interactive work for public media.

Distributor & curator

Karin is the co-founder and president of dGenerate Films, the leading distributor of independent, contemporary Chinese cinema. The dGenerate Films collection is proud to distribute over 80 visionary films from mainland China and Hong Kong in partnership with Icarus Films.

Karin is a founding member of Distribution Advocates, a collective working towards equity in distribution.

Karin was a co-creator of Cinema on the Edge, a series celebrating the best of Chinese independent films.

Strategic consulting, advising, teaching, & SPEAKING

Karin is the director of the Nevada City Film Festival Filmmaker Residency program. The residency is equal parts creative retreat and community engagement, with a focus on Native and Asian American communities. It is the first artists residency to be designed for independent producers.

Karin specializes in strategic consulting in both production and distribution and clients include LucasFilm and the New York Times. Karin has served as an adviser for Sundance, the Gotham, Tribeca, Cinereach, ITVS, Rockefeller Foundation, and more.

Karin served as the 2022 Sundance Producers Keynote Speaker and the 2023 Color Congress Distribution Keynote Speaker. Karin has been honored to speak on many panels, serve on multiple festival juries and awards committees.

Karin was the founder and director of the CAAM (Center for Asian American Media) Fellowship, a mentoring program forAsian American media professionals.

Karin has taught producing and distribution for Temple University, Loyola Marymount University, School of Visual Arts, New York University, Film Independent, Global Media Makers and Sundance Collab.

Karin has served as a mentor and advisor for the Sundance Producing Lab, the Global Media Makers program, the Film Independent Producing Lab, the Firelight Doc Lab and more.

EDUCATION

Karin received a Master’s degree in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s degree in English from University of California, Berkeley.