Oscar-winning Chilean Filmmaker Sebastián Lelio Dies at 52
WHO:
The Guardian - Lelio was born in Argentina and moved to Chile at age two.
Variety - Sebastián Lelio was a Chilean filmmaker and director of the Oscar-winning film *A Fantastic Woman*.
Variety - Lelio’s partner was actress Amalia Kassai.
Deadline - Sebastián Lelio was an Oscar-winning Chilean writer-director whose films included *A Fantastic Woman*, *The Wonder*, and *The Wave*.
Reddit Movies - A post identified Lelio as the Oscar winner for *Una mujer fantástica*.
WHAT:
The Guardian - Lelio’s films included *Gloria*, *Gloria Bell*, *Disobedience*, and *The Sacred Family*; his final film was *The Wave*, a musical protest drama.
The Guardian - *A Fantastic Woman* was the first Chilean film to win the Oscar for best international feature.
The Guardian - Lelio’s first narrative film, *The Sacred Family*, premiered at the San Sebastián Film Festival; *Christmas* premiered at Cannes, and *Gloria* premiered at Berlin.
The Guardian - *Disobedience* received five British Independent Film Award nominations.
Variety - Lelio died at age 52.
Deadline - Lelio died at age 52; his family confirmed his death in a social media post from his partner, Amalia Kassai.
Variety - Kassai posted on Instagram that Lelio’s death was “due to health reasons.”
Reddit Movies - The post reported that Lelio died at age 52.
WHERE:
Variety - Lelio died at his home in Santiago, Chile.
Deadline - Lelio died in Santiago; local media reported that he was found dead at his home.
WHY:
The Guardian - Lelio said the 2017 release of *A Fantastic Woman* helped reactivate discussion in Chile about a gender identity bill that had been dormant in Congress for seven years.
Variety - Kassai attributed Lelio’s death to “health reasons.”
HOW:
The Guardian - Lelio studied journalism for one year before graduating from film school.
Variety - According to Chilean outlet El Mercurio Online, Kassai contacted police after Lelio was found at his home.
Deadline - Lelio’s family confirmed his death in a social media post from Kassai.
(UPDATED November 7, 2026 01:59 UTC)
Oscar-winning Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio has died at 52, at his home in Santiago. His partner attributed his death to health reasons, and his family confirmed it. His film *A Fantastic Woman* won Chile’s first Oscar for international feature.
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(UPDATED November 6, 2026 21:02 UTC)
Oscar-winning Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio has died at 52, his family confirmed. Lelio died at home in Santiago, according to local media reports. His partner, actress Amalia Kassai, attributed his death to health reasons.