Sebastián Lelio, ‘A Fantastic Woman’ Director, Dies at 52
Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio, whose “A Fantastic Woman” brought a transgender woman’s story to a global audience and won an Academy Award, has died at
Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio, whose “A Fantastic Woman” brought a transgender woman’s story to a global audience and won an Academy Award, has died at 52. He died Friday at his home in Santiago, his partner, actress Amalia Kassai, said.
Kassai announced his death in an Instagram post, describing it as due to health problems. She said the family was grieving and asked for privacy.
A film that reached the world
“A Fantastic Woman,” released in 2017, stars Daniela Vega as a transgender woman facing grief after the death of her partner. The film won the Oscar for best international feature film in 2018, making Lelio internationally known for a story centered on a transgender character.
The film’s recognition helped bring transgender stories to a wider cinema audience. Its focus on one woman’s experience also reflected Lelio’s ability to connect personal lives with broader social questions.
From Chilean breakthrough to international films
Born in Argentina, Lelio moved to Chile when he was 2. After studying journalism for a year, he graduated from film school and made the documentary “Cero” in 2003. His first narrative feature, “The Sacred Family,” premiered at the San Sebastián film festival in 2005.
“Gloria,” his 2013 drama about a woman in her late 50s who begins dating again, marked a major international breakthrough. Paulina García won an acting award at the Berlin film festival for her performance.
Lelio later directed the English-language remake “Gloria Bell,” starring Julianne Moore and John Turturro. His other English-language films included “Disobedience,” with Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams, and “The Wonder,” starring Florence Pugh.
His final film, the protest musical “The Wave,” screened at Cannes in 2025 and featured Kassai, who was his partner and a fellow actor and director.
“He was a wonderful person who contributed to Chilean culture during important moments in its history,” Kassai wrote.
