Sebastián Lelio, the Chilean filmmaker whose A Fantastic Woman won an Academy Award, has died at 52. His family attributed his death to health reasons, while Chilean authorities have begun inquiries into the circumstances. A specific medical cause has not been publicly disclosed.
According to Chilean news outlet Emol, Lelio's partner, actress Amalia Kassai, found him dead at his home in Santiago's Las Condes district around noon on Friday, November 6. She subsequently contacted police. The family confirmed his death in a statement shared through her Instagram account and requested privacy.
Emol reported that the Metropolitan Eastern Prosecutor's Office sent a team led by prosecutor Jorge Reyes to the residence. Following preliminary examinations, authorities assigned further investigative work to the Investigative Police's Homicide Brigade. The prosecutor's office declined to comment. That assignment alone does not establish that a crime occurred, and the cited report announced no finding of criminal involvement.
The public information leaves several matters unresolved, including the precise cause of death and the conclusions of the official inquiries. The family's reference to health reasons remains the only publicly stated explanation in these reports.
Lelio gained international recognition through films centred on people struggling for dignity and belonging. His 2017 drama A Fantastic Woman, starring Daniela Vega, won the Oscar for best foreign-language film in 2018. His other directing credits included Gloria, Disobedience, Gloria Bell and The Wonder.
His death also interrupts an active filmmaking project. Lelio had begun work on Poeta chileno, an adaptation of Alejandro Zambra's novel. The reports cited here do not establish what will happen to the production.
Chile's government announced two days of official mourning for November 7 and 8, recognising his contribution to bringing Chilean cinema to international audiences. For his family, the loss is deeply personal. Their statement remembered his character and cultural contribution while asking for consideration as they grieve.
