Oscar-Winning Chilean Director Sebastián Lelio Dies Aged 52
Filmmaker Sebastián Lelio Remembered for Oscar-Winning Transgender Rights Drama
NEW YORK: (Showbiz Desk) – Oscar-winning Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio has died in Santiago at the age of 52, his family announced on Friday.
The Argentine-born director, who grew up in Chile, was internationally recognised for his 2017 film A Fantastic Woman, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.
“With great sadness, we announce the death, due to health reasons, of filmmaker Sebastián Lelio,” his partner, Amalia Kassai, wrote in a statement shared on Instagram.
“We are going through a very painful time, and his memory will remain with us forever,” she added.
Prosecutors are investigating the exact cause of his death, their office told reporters.
Lelio first attracted international attention with his 2013 film Gloria, which featured Paulina García in the lead role. García won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival for her performance.
His international reputation was further established by A Fantastic Woman, a drama about a transgender waitress struggling with the death of her partner.
The film won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and also sparked public debate in Chile over transgender rights. Its impact contributed to discussions surrounding legal reforms that allowed people in the country to legally change their gender.
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