Sebastián Lelio, Chilean filmmaker and Oscar winner for 'A Fantastic Woman,' dies at 52
The renowned director passed away on Friday, according to his family. Lelio made history in 2018 by winning the first Oscar for a Chilean feature film.
Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio shows off his Oscar statuette
The Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio, winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for A Fantastic Woman (2017), died Friday at the age of 52, according to his family. The specific causes of his death have not been disclosed.
"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of filmmaker Sebastián Lelio due to health issues. We are going through a time of great pain, and his memory will remain with us forever," said his partner, actress Amalia Kassai, in a statement posted on Instagram and reported by the Chilean media outlet T13.
Lelio established himself as one of the most important figures in Latin American cinema thanks to films such as Gloria (2013), starring Paulina García, who won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival.
His greatest international recognition came with A Fantastic Woman, starring Daniela Vega, which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2018, becoming the first Chilean feature film to win in that category, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Hollywood.
Throughout his career, he also directed Disobedience (2017), starring Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams; Gloria Bell (2019), starring Julianne Moore; and The Prodigy (2022), starring Florence Pugh. His latest feature film to be released was The Wave (2025).
His death was also confirmed by Chilean media outlets such as ADN Radio and 24 Horas, leaving a significant mark on Chilean cinema, which he helped bring to the international stage with stories recognized at the industry's leading festivals and awards ceremonies.
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