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Sebastián Lelio, Oscar-winning Chilean director, dies at 52
Acclaimed Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio has died at the age of 52. His partner, actress Amalia Kassai, announced his passing via Instagram, citing health reasons. Lelio was found lifeless at his home in the Las Condes district of Santiago, Chile.
Lelio achieved international prominence with his 2018 film “A Fantastic Woman,” which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, making history as the first Chilean film to win in that category. His notable works include “Gloria” (2013), “Disobedience” (2017), “Gloria Bell” (2018), and “The Wonder” (2022).
At the time of his death, Lelio was reportedly working on the production of “Poeta Chileno,” an adaptation of the novel by Alejandro Zambra. Chilean Culture Minister Francisco Undurraga and the actors' union Chile Actores expressed profound grief, describing his death as an irreparable loss to the nation's cultural and film industries.
Entities
Academy Awards · Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences · Alejandro Zambra · Amalia Kassai · Amazon MGM Studios · Chile · Chilean Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage · Daniela Vega · Francisco Undurraga · Las Condes · Ministry of Cultures · Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage