# Oscar-winning Chilean filmmaker Sebastian Lelio dies at 52

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/oscar-winning-chilean-filmmaker-sebastian-lelio-dies-at-52/
- Published: 2026-11-07T03:10:46+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-07T04:23:03+00:00
- Original publisher: CNA (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/sebastian-lelio-chilean-filmmaker-death-6532581
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Sebastián Lelio has died in Santiago aged 52.
- His film *A Fantastic Woman* won the 2018 international film Oscar.
- He had begun filming a new project, *Poeta Chileno*.

## Summary

Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio, best known for the Oscar-winning drama *A Fantastic Woman*, has died in Santiago aged 52. His family announced his death on Friday, citing health reasons but giving no further details. The film’s portrayal of a transgender woman helped bring international recognition to Lelio’s work and Chilean cinema.

Lelio won the 2018 Academy Award for best international film for *A Fantastic Woman*, starring transgender actress Daniela Vega; it was Chile’s second Oscar. His other films included *Gloria*, *The Wave*, *The Wonder* and *Disobedience*, and he worked with actors including Julianne Moore, Rachel Weisz and Florence Pugh. He had begun filming *Poeta Chileno*, based on a novel by Alejandro Zambra, in September.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.