Sebastián Lelio Dies: Oscar-Winning ‘A Fantastic Woman’ Filmmaker Who Also Made ‘The Wonder’ & ‘The Wave’ Was 52

Sebastián Lelio, the Oscar-winning Chilean filmmaker behind such pics as A Fantastic Woman, The Wonder, and The Wave, died Friday in Santiago. He was 52.

His family confirmed the news in a social media post from Lelio’s partner Amalia Kassai, and local media in Chile reported that he was found dead at his home. Kassai’s post said he died “following health complications” but did not provide an exact cause.

“With great sadness, we announce the death, following health complications, of Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio,” she wrote in a translation. “We are going through a time of profound grief, and his memory will remain with us forever. He was a wonderful person who made significant contributions to Chilean culture at important moments in its history. As a family, we ask for privacy and consideration during these difficult times.”

Lelios has been filming Chilean Poet, an adaptation of Alejandro Zambra’s novel.

His 2017 pic A Fantastic Woman won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, the only time Chile has won the category. It premiered at the Berlin Film Festival that year, winning three awards including Best Feature Film and Screenplay. The Spanish-language pic follows a waitress and singer and an older man who are in love and planning for the future. After he suddenly falls ill and dies, she is forced to confront his family and society and fight again to show them she is strong, forthright and fantastic.

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His 2022 psychological thriller The Wonder starring Florence Pugh earned a BAFTA nomination for Outstanding British Film of the Year.