Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio has died at the age of 52. The director, whose films starred Florence Pugh and Julianne Moore, was found dead at his home in Las Condes, Santiago. He was best known for the Oscar-winning trans drama A Fantastic Woman, and his English-language films included Gloria Bell and The Wonder.
Partner announces death
His partner Amalia Kassai announced his death on Instagram on Friday but did not specify the cause of death. Writing in Spanish, she said it was a difficult time for the family. She began: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of the Chilean filmmaker, Sebastián Lelio due to health-related reasons. We are going through a time of great pain, and his memory will remain with us forever. He was a wonderful person who contributed to Chilean culture during significant moments in its history. As a family, we ask for respect for our privacy and for consideration during these difficult times."
Fans flocked to the comment section as they offered their condolences and paid tribute to the filmmaker.
Career highlights
At the time of his death, he was hard at work on his tenth feature, Chilean Poet, an adaptation of Alejandro Zambra's novel about a frustrated poet pulled from, towards, and apart again from his teenage sweetheart.
His first narrative film The Sacred Family premiered at the San Sebastián film festival in 2005. His follow-up, 2009's Christmas, premiered at Cannes, but it was 2013's Gloria that provided him with a major international breakthrough. The drama, about a woman in her late 50s who starts dating again, premiered at Berlin and won its lead star Paulina García an acting award at the festival.
Lelio released A Fantastic Woman, a drama about the life of a trans woman, and it became the first Chilean film to win the Oscar for best international feature. He made his English-language debut with London-set drama Disobedience, which told a queer love story between women played by Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams. It was nominated for five British independent film awards.
Legacy and tributes
"I love working with actors, and need to know they trust me and can explore, get lost, be foolish or brave, and I'll take care of them," he said to the Guardian. "I love working on set – it is where the sparkle is."
The filmmaker's death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and colleagues, with many recalling his contribution to Chilean culture and cinema.
