Sebastián Lelio, the Chilean filmmaker, has died. He was 52 years old. The Academy Award-winning director, who worked alongside actors like Julianne Moore, Rachel Weisz, and Rachel McAdams, died after experiencing some health complications.
© GettyImagesLelio's partner, Amelia Kassai, confirmed his death in an Instagram post, sharing a statement accompanied by a black-and-white photo of Lelio.
"It's with a lot of sadness that we communicate the death, due to health reasons, of the filmmaker Sebastian Lelio. We're going through a very painful moment, and his memory will remain forever with us. He was a beautiful person who supported Chilean culture during big moments in history. As a family, we ask for respect, privacy, and consideration as we face these difficult times," reads the statement. It was signed by Lelio's family members.
Lelio died in his home in Santiago, Chile. He was in the midst of filming a new project, titled "Chilean Poet," based on the book of the same name by Alejandro Zambra. He was also developing an English-language project called "Voyagers," starring Andrew Garfield and Daisy Edgar-Jones.
Lelio's work as a filmmaker
© WireImageWhile Lelio worked across countries, his most famous film is Chilean. "A Fantastic Woman" resulted in him winning the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, marking the first time that Chile won an Oscar in that category.
The story follows a trans woman (Daniela Vega) whose partner, a much older man, dies. The events result in her having to come face to face with his family and their bigotry. The film made Vega an international star, with her starring in shows like Netflix's "Tales of the City."
After his Oscar success, Lelio split his time, working abroad and in Chile, directing films like "Gloria Bell," starring Julianne Moore and John Turturro, and "Disobedience," a love story played by Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams. Recent films include "The Prodigy," starring Florence Pugh, and "The Wave," a Chilean musical drama based on feminist protests in the country.
The film was his last before his death.
© Getty Images
