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Oscar-winning director Sebastián Lelio has died in Santiago, Chile, at age 52. His family announced the death on Instagram without specifying the cause.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Oscar-winning Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio has died in Santiago, Chile, at 52, the Associated Press reported on November 6, 2026. His family announced his death Friday in an Instagram post, citing health reasons but not specifying the cause.
"His memory will remain forever among us," the family said. "He was a beautiful person who contributed to Chilean culture in great moments of its history."
Lelio won the 2018 Academy Award for best international film (formerly known as foreign language film) for "A Fantastic Woman," starring trans actress Daniela Vega as a waitress and nightclub singer whose life is torn by the death of her boyfriend. It was Chile’s second Academy Award, following the animated short "Bear Story" in 2016.
His other films include "Gloria," "The Wave," "The Wonder," "Disobedience," and "The Year of the Tiger." Throughout his career, he collaborated with Julianne Moore, Rachel Weisz and Florence Pugh.
Lelio had begun filming "Poeta Chileno" (Chilean Poet) based on the book by Alejandro Zambra in September.
He was born in the Argentine city of Mendoza and moved to Chile at the age of 2. He studied journalism for a year before enrolling at the Chilean Film School.
The unexpected demise of Lelio cast a pall over the closing ceremonies of the Santiago Film Festival (Sanfic), which wraps November 8. The red carpet portions of the industry and festival ceremonies held November 6 and 7 were cancelled.
"We dedicate the rest of this festival to Sebastián," said festival director Carlos Nuñez and Sanfic Industria head Gabriela Sandoval.
Lelio’s family announced that the Cineteca Nacional (National Film Library) would open its doors this weekend to all those wishing to pay their respects, as the government declared two days of mourning. Flags flew at half mast to honor him.
Lelio was filming an adaptation of Alejandro Zambra’s novel "Chilean Poet" for Fabula and was also in pre-production on "Voyagers," featuring Andrew Garfield and Daisy Edgar-Jones.
Lelio’s death ends the career of one of Chile’s most internationally recognized filmmakers. His 2018 Oscar win for "A Fantastic Woman" marked only the second Academy Award for Chile, and his work brought global attention to Chilean cinema and to stories centered on transgender and women’s experiences.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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