Remembering Sebastián Lelio, an Auteur Who Centered Women’s Stories With Style and Sensitivity

Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio has died aged 52, leaving a varied body of work known for its empathy and distinctive style. His films often centred women and queer lives, and helped bring Chilean cinema to wider attention, including through the Oscar-winning *A Fantastic Woman*.

Lelio won the 2017 Academy Award for Best International Feature for *A Fantastic Woman*, the first Chilean film to receive the award. His films also included *Disobedience* and *Gloria*; he later remade the latter as *Gloria Bell*, with Julianne Moore, creating a companion piece that shifted the story’s tone.