Oscar-winning filmmaker Sebastián Lelio dies at 52 in Chile

Santiago, Chile | November 7, 2026 : Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio, who won an Academy Award for directing A Fantastic Woman, has died at the age of 52. His family confirmed his death on Friday, November 6, in a statement shared on social media. The family cited health reasons but did not disclose further details about the cause of death.

Lelio was known internationally for his work in Chilean and English-language cinema. His 2017 film A Fantastic Woman, starring Daniela Vega, won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018. The film became the first Chilean feature film to receive the award.
According to the Associated Press, Lelio was born in Mendoza, Argentina, and moved to Chile when he was two years old. He later studied at the Chilean Film School and built an international career as a director and screenwriter.

His filmography included Gloria (2013), Disobedience (2017), Gloria Bell (2018) and The Wonder (2022). He worked with several internationally recognised actors, including Julianne Moore, Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams and Florence Pugh.

Lelio's work received international recognition following the success of A Fantastic Woman. The film explored the experiences of a transgender woman dealing with discrimination after the death of her partner. It also received several international awards.

Lelio contra el mundo 💔 https://t.co/xMtguqhaWu

— For Your Consideration (@FYC_Oscar) November 6, 2026

His family described him as a person who had made important contributions to Chilean culture. In its statement, the family asked the public and media to respect their privacy during the grieving period.
At the time of his death, Lelio had been working on Poeta Chileno, a film adaptation of the novel by Chilean author Alejandro Zambra. The project had entered production in September 2026. No official announcement had been made about the future of the unfinished project.

His death was also reported by several international entertainment publications. The film industry is expected to remember his contribution to international cinema and his work in bringing Chilean films to a global audience.