Chilean Film Director Sebastián Lelio Dies at 52
Con mucha tristeza comunicamos el fallecimiento por motivos de salud del cineasta chileno Sebastián Lelio,
wrote partner Amalia Kassai on Instagram, announcing the sudden death of the Oscar-winning filmmaker at his home in Las Condes on Friday, November 6.
Lelio, who directed the acclaimed drama Una mujer fantástica, passed away at age 52 after being found by Kassai around noon. Minister of Cultures, Arts, and Heritage Francisco Undurraga reacted to the death, stating that Chilean cinema is in mourning. Mundiario noted that no official causes of death have been made public.
From Gloria to Oscar Glory
Lelio gained international recognition in 2013 with the release of Gloria, a feature starring Paulina García that secured the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival, as detailed by Mundiario. That early recognition paved the way for his most important achievement in 2017 with Una mujer fantástica. The film chronicled the life of Marina, a transgender woman navigating grief and societal prejudice following the death of her partner. The movie collected awards at the Berlinale, earned a Goya Award for Best Ibero-American Film, and ultimately captured the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2018.
Following his Academy Award win, Lelio expanded his filmmaking into international productions. His English-language credits included Disobedience, starring Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams, and Gloria Bell, a remake of his own film starring Julianne Moore. He also directed the historical drama The Wonder, starring Florence Pugh. In 2025, he premiered La ola, a musical inspired by the 2018 feminist student demonstrations in Chile, as reported by Mundiario.
National and International Tributes
Francisco Reyes, the lead actor of Una mujer fantástica, shared his grief on social media, writing that he felt deeply hurt and struck by the sudden departure of a sensitive and playful artist. Minister Undurraga added that Lelio carried Chilean stories to global stages and marked a definitive turning point for national cinematography. The Santiago International Film Festival (SANFIC) and the Chilean Film Academy also released statements honoring his impact on modern storytelling.
At the time of his passing, Lelio was actively developing the cinematic adaptation of Alejandro Zambra’s novel Poeta chileno, according to Mundiario. Cultural institutions across the country, including the National Archive of Cinema and CinemaChile, commemorated his ongoing contributions to Latin American film culture.
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