For almost four decades she was one of the most respected and trusted brokers between Hollywood’s studios and the journalists of the HFPA. Now, at age 67, Nadia Bronson died following a long battle with cancer.

Only a handful of her closest friends within the HFPA knew about her personal health condition but many members felt a strong sense of loss after being informed by HFPA President Theo Kingma about Nadia Bronson’s death.

The veterans among the HFPA members have known her since 1977 when she started at MCA/Universal in the office of marketing head Louis Blaine.

Her publicity work with the international press effectively started after Blaine left the studio in 1982 and she took over his position as director of international advertising and publicity.

Due to her dedicated and innovative performance she was promoted to VP in 1985 and Senior VP in 1994. Two years later her position was raised to Executive VP of international marketing, and shortly after that to President. In 2000 she was named president of international theatrical marketing, distribution and operations.

She developed and managed international campaigns on major Universal films such as Out of Africa, Apollo 13, Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park, Shakespeare in Love and Gladiator.

After a 24 year tenure at Universal she left the studio in 2001 and started her own international marketing and distribution company, Nadia Bronson Associates. She and her staff were known for their personal and hands-on working relation with the international press including the HFPA. On behalf of her clients which included Paramount, Fox Searchlight and the Weinstein Co. she would be a permanent presence and media coordinator at major film festivals such as Cannes or Venice.

As a native of France, Nadia Bronson, who spoke many languages fluently, was well suited for working in and for non-domestic territories. With Hollywood’s increasing dependency on overseas box office she clearly was a pioneer in foreseeing the importance of international markets.

Nadia Bronson is survived by her husband, Tom Bronson, daughters Tanya and Lindsay and her two grandchildren.

Elmar Biebl