Culture 2 min read By Trevor Kendall
Sebastián Lelio, Oscar-winning director of «A Fantastic Woman», dies at 52
Chilean writer-director Sebastián Lelio, who won an Oscar for «A Fantastic Woman», was found dead at his home in Santiago. He was 52. His family confirmed the death on social media, and the cause has not been officially stated.
Chilean writer-director Sebastián Lelio, whose drama «A Fantastic Woman» won the Academy Award for best foreign-language film, died on Friday in Santiago. He was 52. The death was confirmed by his family through social media, and the news was reported by major entertainment outlets including Variety and Deadline.
According to Chilean media, Lelio was found dead at his home. His partner, Amalia Kassai, alerted the police after the discovery. In a social media post, Kassai cited health reasons, but the sources available do not state an official cause of death.
Lelio built his reputation as a writer-director whose films focused on complex, emotionally layered characters. «A Fantastic Woman» brought him his greatest international recognition, earning him the Oscar in the foreign-language category. The film followed a transgender woman navigating grief and prejudice after the death of her partner, and it became one of the most widely discussed foreign-language releases of its time.
Lelio's other films include «The Wonder» and «The Wave». Across his body of work, he was known for writing as well as directing, shaping the stories he brought to the screen himself. Entertainment outlets noted that his death came as a surprise to many in the industry, and the details reported by Variety and Deadline were largely consistent with one another.
Further details about the circumstances of his death have not been released. Readers who want updates should look for official statements from his family or Chilean authorities.
Source: deadline.com
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