‘Fantastic Woman,’ ‘The Wonder’ Director Was 52
The Hollywood Reporter • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Sebastián Lelio, the acclaimed Chilean writer-director known for films like A Fantastic Woman and Gloria, has died at age 52, with his partner finding him at their Santiago home.
- Lelio earned international recognition for A Fantastic Woman (2017), which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, becoming the first Chilean film to do so, and also received the Golden Bear and Spirit Award.
- His notable works include Gloria (2013) and its American remake Gloria Bell (2018), Disobedience (2017), and The Wonder (2022), all praised for their nuanced storytelling and strong performances.
- Lelio’s latest film, The Wave (2025), a musical drama inspired by Chile’s 2018 feminist protests, premiered at Cannes, and he was working on Chilean Poet at the time of his death.
- Born in Argentina and raised in Chile, Lelio studied film in Chile and made several impactful films throughout his career, with Sony Pictures Classics highlighting his unique vision and lasting influence on international cinema.
