Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio dies in Santiago aged 52

Chilean director and screenwriter Sebastián Lelio died on Friday, 6 November 2026, at his home in Santiago at the age of 52. IndieWire, Variety, ComingSoon, and Deadline reported that he was found dead at his residence. According to The Wrap, Variety, and Deadline, his partner, the actress and director Amalia Kassai, confirmed his death on social media and stated it was due to health complications. IndieWire reported that Chilean publication Emol first revealed the news, while Variety noted that Chilean outlet El Mercurio Online reported Kassai contacted police after he was found. [2][3][4][5][7]

Lelio achieved international recognition for directing and co-writing A Fantastic Woman. IndieWire noted that the film won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film in 2018. IndieWire and The Hollywood Reporter also reported that Lelio directed the 2013 Chilean drama Gloria, which won star Paulina García a Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, before he directed its 2018 English-language remake Gloria Bell starring Julianne Moore. [3][6][12]

His other directing credits included the feature films Disobedience, The Wonder, and the protest musical film The Wave, according to reports by IndieWire, The Hollywood Reporter, and Deadline. Kassai starred in The Wave, which IndieWire reported was Lelio's final film project. [3][6][7]

The Guardian described Lelio as one of the standard bearers of the Novisimo Cine Chileno movement. That movement of Chilean cinema also included directors Pablo Larraín, Sebastián Silva, and Patricio Guzmán. [1]