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Oscar-winning director Sebastián Lelio dies at 52
Oscar-winning Chilean director Sebastián Lelio found dead at 52 by girlfriend who shared heartbreaking tribute: 'A time of profound grief'.
In brief
Oscar-winning Chilean director Sebastián Lelio found dead at 52 by girlfriend who shared heartbreaking tribute: 'A time of profound grief'. Oscar-winning Chilean director Sebastián Lelio died at 52 after being found dead by his actress girlfriend, who issued a statement expressing profound grief. Originally reported…
Sebastián Lelio found dead
Oscar-winning Chilean director Sebastián Lelio died at age 52 after being found dead by his actress girlfriend.
Girlfriend issues statement
Actress girlfriend Amalia Kassai shared a heartbreaking statement expressing profound grief over his death.
Health complications cause
His family and Kassai announced he died due to health complications with no exact medical cause disclosed.
Oscar-winning film
Lelio won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for his film A Fantastic Woman in 2017.
Recent projects
Lelio was in production on an adaptation of Chilean Poet by Alejandro Zambra and developing Voyagers with Andrew Garfield.
The Wave film
His most recent completed film The Wave premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and featured Kassai in a role.
A Fantastic Woman
A Fantastic Woman, which Lelio directed, was inspired by 2018 Chilean feminist protests and starred Daniela Vega.
Other notable films
Lelio's other notable films include The Year of the Tiger (2011), Disobedience (2017), Gloria (2018), and The Wonder (2022).
Sony Pictures statement
Sony Pictures Classics described Lelio as a one-of-a-kind filmmaker whose work continued to evolve and surprise audiences globally.
Lelio's background
Lelio was born in Mendoza, Argentina, moved to Chile at age two, and lived nomadically across cities until age 21.
Lelio's education
Lelio studied journalism for one year before graduating from the Chilean Film School.
Kassai's tribute
Kassai shared romantic photos of the couple and wrote: 'I love you in this life and in all the lives to come. He illuminated everything and everything around him … Only love remains.'
“I love you in this life and in all the lives to come. He illuminated everything and everything around him … Only love remains.”
Family statement
His family and Kassai stated: 'We are going through a time of profound grief, and his memory will remain with us forever.'
“We are going through a time of profound grief, and his memory will remain with us forever.”
Lelio's death location
Lelio was found dead at his home in Las Condes, Santiago, Chile around midday on Friday.
Time of death
Lelio was found dead by his partner, actress Amalia Kassai, who then called the authorities.
Lelio's age
Lelio was 52 years old at the time of his death.
The main idea
Oscar-winning Chilean director Sebastián Lelio died at 52 after being found dead by his actress girlfriend, who issued a statement expressing profound grief.
