Amazon Studios PR executive Vicky Eguia passed away on Saturday in Los Angeles after a long illness. She was 48.
Eguia was head of publicity for Amazon’s original films for many years before taking on a new role as director of PR for Diversity, Justice & Inclusion and Community Relations.
Amazon Studios head Jen Salke and PR boss Cory Shields said in a staff memo about Eguia: “As many of you know so well, Vicky was a consummate team player – always ready to deploy with complete dedication and dedication. We will all remember her. lack of charm and sense of humor.”
The widely admired and likeable PR executive arrived at Amazon Studios in 2015 when indie film veteran Bob Berney – with whom she had a long professional relationship – was tasked with getting the company’s original film operation off the ground. One of Amazon’s early successes in this area was: Manchester by the sea, which earned multiple Oscar nominations — including Best Picture — and a Best Actor win for Casey Affleck. With these awards, Amazon made history as the first streaming service to earn an Oscar nomination for best picture. Eguia also oversaw publicity campaigns for Amazon Studios titles such as: The Big Sick, The Sound of Metal, Borat Follow-up, One Night in Miami, Coming 2 America and more.
Eguia was adept at leading awards and publicity campaigns. Before joining Amazon, she held various publicity roles at Millennium Entertainment, Apparition, Picturehouse and Newmarket Films and worked on a slew of high profile titles with Berney, including Mel Gibson’s hit The Passion of the Christ and, later, Guillermo Del Toro’s Oscar-winning film. winning Pan’s Labyrinth and Marion Cotillard’s breakout film La Vie en Rose.
“RIP Vicky Eguia. You brought a great spirit to everyone and always made it better; your love for movies and all of our misfits who make and support them was always evident. You will always be greatly missed”, tweeted indie movie vet Ted Hopewho worked with Berney at Amazon Studios.
Eguia began her career in 2000 as an account executive at Rogers & Cowan in the film division, where clients were IFC Films and Lionsgate. She worked on campaigns for movies like Y Tu Mama Tambien, my fat Greek wedding and whaler†
“Vicky was a very talented, smart and passionate publicity manager who really loved entertainment and every facet of the craft of filmmaking,” Amazon said of the late executive, who was also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and ” had an incredible sense of humor and a magical way of telling stories that entertained everyone who knew her.”
“Vicky was admired and respected by filmmakers, industry trendsetters, her colleagues and her friends,” Amazon said. “She will be sadly missed.”