Director Sebastián Lelio Dies at Age 52 in Santiago

The acclaimed director Sebastián Lelio has passed away at his home in Santiago, Chile, at the age of 52. Best known for his Oscar-winning work, his death marks the loss of a major international voice in contemporary cinema.

Born in Argentina, Lelio relocated to Chile during his early childhood. Following initial studies in journalism, he transitioned to film school and released his documentary Cero in 2003, later premiering his first narrative feature, The Sacred Family, at the San Sebastián film festival. His international breakthrough arrived with the 2013 drama Gloria, which screened in Berlin and brought widespread recognition to its lead actress.

Sebastián Lelio Movies

His career reached new heights with the 2017 drama A Fantastic Woman, which focused on the life of a trans woman and secured the first-ever Academy Award for best international feature for a Chilean production. The motion picture also contributed to local social discussions regarding gender identity legislation in Chile. Later, he expanded into English-language cinema, directing Disobedience starring Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams, a reimagined American version of Gloria titled Gloria Bell featuring Julianne Moore, and the Florence Pugh vehicle The Wonder. His final project was the musical protest drama The Wave, which premiered at Cannes in 2025.

Acclaimed Chilean film-maker Sebastián Lelio has passed away at his Santiago home at the age of 52.

Amalia Kassai, his partner, shared the news of his death via social media while noting that the period was deeply painful for his family, though no specific cause of death was provided. Local reports confirmed that he passed away at his residence in Las Condes.

Why it matters

The passing of Sebastián Lelio removes a prominent creative force from the global film industry, leaving behind a celebrated catalog that bridged South American stories with international audiences through acclaimed dramas and musical projects.