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Sebastián Lelio, the Oscar-winning Chilean director of A Fantastic Woman, has died at age 52. His partner Amalia Kassai announced his death, citing health reasons.
Sebastián Lelio, the Oscar-winning Chilean filmmaker, has died at age 52. His partner, actress and director Amalia Kassai, announced his death on Instagram. Local media in Chile reported that he was found dead at his home in Santiago.
Kassai’s statement, translated into English, said:
"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio due to health reasons. We are going through a time of deep sorrow, and his memory will remain with us forever. He was a wonderful person who made significant contributions to Chilean culture at key moments in its history. As a family, we ask for respect for our privacy and for consideration during these difficult times."
The statement was issued by The Lelio Kassai Family and The Campos Watt Family.
Lelio’s 2017 film A Fantastic Woman won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, the only time Chile has won the category. He also directed Disobedience in 2017, Gloria Bell in 2018, The Wonder in 2022, and The Wave, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025. He was mid-production on Chilean Poet, an adaptation of Alejandro Zambra’s novel.
Born in Argentina, Lelio emigrated to Chile at age two with his mother and later graduated from Chilean Film School. His debut narrative feature, The Sacred Family, premiered at the San Sebastián International Film Festival in Spain. His follow-up, Navidad, premiered at Cannes in 2009.
Lelio was one of Chile’s most internationally recognized filmmakers. A Fantastic Woman was the first Chilean film to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and his work brought Chilean stories and actors such as Daniela Vega and Paulina García to global audiences.
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Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio, director of the Oscar-winning film 'A Fantastic Woman,' has died at 52. His partner said the death was due to health reasons.
