Oscar-Winning Chilean Director Sebastián Lelio Dies at 52

Sebastián Lelio, the Chilean director who won an Academy Award for the 2017 film A Fantastic Woman, has died at the age of 52, his longtime partner confirmed on Friday. The filmmaker passed away due to health complications, according to a statement issued by actress Amalia Kassai.

In her statement, Kassai described Lelio as a wonderful person who made significant contributions to Chilean culture at important moments in its history. She said his memory would remain with those close to him and asked for privacy and consideration on behalf of the family during this difficult period.

Lelio earned international recognition with A Fantastic Woman, which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2018, becoming the first Chilean production to receive the honour. The film, starring Daniela Vega, was widely praised for its sensitive portrayal of a transgender woman navigating grief and discrimination following the death of her partner.

Beyond that career-defining work, Lelio built a reputation for intimate character studies that travelled widely on the festival circuit. His filmography included Gloria, which was later adapted into an English-language version starring Julianne Moore, as well as Disobedience and The Wonder.

At the time of his death, Lelio was in the middle of filming an adaptation of Alejandro Zambra's novel Chilean Poet. He was also attached to the highly anticipated project Voyagers, which was set to star Andrew Garfield and Daisy Edgar-Jones.

Tributes from colleagues and film industry figures are expected to follow as news of his passing circulates. Lelio's death marks the loss of one of Latin America's most acclaimed contemporary filmmakers, whose work brought Chilean cinema to global audiences.