Sebastián Lelio, the Oscar-winning director behind “A Fantastic Woman,” has died at age 52 due to “health complications.”
The director was found dead at his home in Santiago, Chile, around noon on Friday by his longtime partner, actress Amalia Kassai, who called the police after making the devastating discovery, local media outlet Emol reported.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the death, following health complications, of Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio,” his family wrote in a statement.
“We are going through a time of deep grief and his memory will stay with us forever. He was a wonderful person who made significant contributions to Chilean culture at important times in its history. As a family, we ask for privacy and consideration during these difficult times.”
Lelio’s family has not shared the exact cause of his death, and it is unclear whether the filmmaker was dealing with health issues in recent weeks.
Kassai shared a heartbreaking ode to his late pal, saying Lelio was “an important person to many.”
“I love you in this life and in all lives to come,” Kassai wrote alongside a carousel of loved-up photos of the couple.
“He illuminated everything and everything around him… All that remains is love.”
Lelio was filming an adaptation of the novel “Chilean Poet” by Alejandro Zambra and was set to direct the highly anticipated film “Travelers” starring Andrew Garfield and Daisy Edgar-Jones.
His work includes several successful films, including “Gloria”, “The Wave”, “The Wonder”, “Disobedience” and “The Year of the Tiger”. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with Julianne Moore, Rachel Weisz and Florence Pugh.
He won the Oscar for best international film in 2018 for “A Fantastic Woman”, which is the second Oscar awarded to Chile, after the animated short film “Bear Story” in 2016.
Lelio was born in the Argentinian city of Mendoza and moved to Chile at just two years old. He studied journalism for a year before enrolling at the Chilean Film School.
With post wires
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