Vicky Egua, CEO of Amazon Studios, dies at 48

Amazon Studios Executive Director of Public Affairs Vicki Egua died Saturday after a long battle with cancer in Los Angeles. He was 48 years old.

Egvia spent years as head of publicity for Amazon Original Movies before taking on a new role as director of public relations for diversity, equality and inclusion and public relations.

Jen Salk, CEO of Amazon Studios, and Corey Shields, senior director of public relations, said of Egua in a memo to staff: “We all miss her charm and sense of humor.”

The acclaimed and personable PR executive arrived at Amazon Studios in 2015, when independent film veteran Bob Bernie, with whom he had a long-standing professional relationship, was hired to help operate the company’s original film. One of Amazon’s first successes was in this space. Manchester by the Sea, which earned numerous Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won the Casey Affleck Award for Best Actor. With that rating, Amazon made history as the first streaming service to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Eguia also controlled advertising campaigns for Amazon Studios titles such as The Big Sick, The Sound of Metal, Borat’s Aftermath, One Night in Miami, Coming 2 America And more.

Egua intelligently managed the awards and public campaigns. Prior to Amazon, he held various public positions at Millennium Entertainment, Apparition, Picturehouse, and Newmarket Films, and worked with Bernie on several high-profile titles, including Mel Gibson’s hit The Passion of the Christ and later Guillermo del Toro. The Oscar winner “Labyrinth of Pan” and the Marion Cotillard feature film “La Vie en Rose”.

“The RIP wiki is like that. You have brought tremendous spirit to everyone and have always improved it; His love for the movies and for all of us who created and supported them was always obvious. I’ve always missed you so much.” Wrote independent film veteran Ted Hope on TwitterWho worked with Bernie at Amazon Studios.

Egvia began her career in 2000 as CEO of Rogers & Cowan Accounts in the Film Division, where clients included IFC Films and Lionsgate. He has worked on campaigns for films such as And your mother too, my big Greek wedding s whale rider.

“Vicky was a very talented, smart and passionate advertising executive who really loved having fun and every aspect of film,” Amazon said of the late executive, who was also a fellow of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He had an amazing sense of humor and a magical way of telling stories that entertained everyone who knew him.

“Vicki was admired and respected by filmmakers, industry insiders, colleagues and friends,” Amazon said. “It’s a shame to lose you.”