The acclaimed filmmaker passed away at his home in Las Condes, Santiago, according to a statement released by his partner Amalia Kassai. After originally studying journalism before pivoting to film school, he debuted his first narrative feature in 2005. His celebrated filmography later expanded into international projects, concluding with the Cannes premiere of his musical protest drama.
Key points
His landmark film *A Fantastic Woman* helped reactivate dormant discussions regarding a g…: His landmark film *A Fantastic Woman* helped reactivate dormant discussions regarding a gender identity bill in Chile's congress.
He successfully transitioned into English-language cinema with high-profile projects star…: He successfully transitioned into English-language cinema with high-profile projects starring actors Julianne Moore and Florence Pugh.
His filmmaking career concluded following the Cannes Film Festival premiere of the musica…: His filmmaking career concluded following the Cannes Film Festival premiere of the musical protest drama *The Wave* in 2025.
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Chilean film-maker Sebastián Lelio has died at the age of 52.
He was best known for the Oscar-winning trans drama A Fantastic Woman and his English-language films included Gloria Bell and The Wonder.
His partner Amalia Kassai announced his death on Instagram without specifying the cause of death but telling followers, in Spanish, that it was a painful time for his family. Chilean media reports that he died at his home in Las Condes, Santiago.
Lelio was born in Argentina but moved to Chile at the age of two. He studied journalism for one year before graduating from film school and then released 9/11 documentary Cero in 2003. His first narrative film The Sacred Family premiered at the San Sebastián film festival in 2005.
His follow-up, 2009’s Christmas, premiered at Cannes but it was 2013’s Gloria that provided him with a major international breakthrough. The drama, about a woman in her late 50s who starts dating again, premiered at Berlin and won its lead star Paulina García an acting award at the festival.
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