Oscar-winning Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio dies at 52

Sebastián Lelio, the Oscar-winning Chilean filmmaker known for his groundbreaking drama A Fantastic Woman, has passed away at the age of 52 in Santiago, Chile. His family announced his death on Instagram, citing health reasons without specifying the cause. Lelio's death is mourned as a loss to Chilean culture, with his family describing him as a "beautiful person" who made significant contributions to the country's history.

A Fantastic Woman, which Lelio directed, won the 2018 Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, marking Chile's second Academy Award win. The film featured trans actress Daniela Vega in a powerful role as a woman coping with the loss of her boyfriend. Lelio's other notable works include Gloria, The Wave, The Wonder, Disobedience, and The Year of the Tiger.

He had been in the midst of filming Poeta Chileno, a project based on the book by Alejandro Zambra, at the time of his death. Born in Mendoza, Argentina, Lelio moved to Chile at the age of two and initially studied journalism before attending the Chilean Film School.