The facts
The Associated Press reported that Lelio died in Santiago on 6 November at age 52, citing an announcement by his family. [1]
The family cited health reasons but did not disclose a specific cause of death in the announcement reported by AP. [1]
Lelio directed A Fantastic Woman, which won the Academy Award for best foreign-language film in 2018. [1]
The University of Chile and Chile’s culture minister publicly acknowledged his death. [2][3]
Chile’s Interior Ministry declared official mourning nationwide for 7 and 8 November, citing Lelio’s career and contribution to national culture; the decree directed national flags to be flown at half-mast at public institutions and security forces. [4][5]
Still unconfirmed
- A specific medical cause of death was not disclosed by the family in the reports reviewed.
Corrections & updates
Update: Added the official two-day national mourning decree and independent Chilean reporting on its scope; the family’s announcement remains the basis for the reported death and no specific cause is stated.
Sources
References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 8 Nov 2026, 03:47 UTC.
AP cited the family announcement; the University of Chile, Chilean reporting and the official gazette confirm Lelio’s death and the national mourning decree. No specific cause beyond the family’s general statement is asserted.
- Sebastián Lelio, Oscar-winning Chilean filmmaker, dies at 52
The Associated Press · Reporting · 6 Nov 2026
Opened AP obituary citing the family announcement; it says health reasons were cited without a specific cause.
- Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio dies
University of Chile, Faculty of Communication and Image · Primary source · 6 Nov 2026
Opened the University of Chile acknowledgment of the filmmaker’s death.
- Culture minister mourns Sebastián Lelio and highlights his international recognition
T13 Chile · Reporting · 6 Nov 2026
Opened Chilean reporting on official tributes and his international recognition.
- Decreto 1.449: Declara duelo oficial por dos días por Sebastián Lelio Watt
Diario Oficial de la República de Chile · Primary source · 7 Nov 2026
Opened the official decree: national mourning was declared for 7 and 8 November, citing Lelio’s contribution to culture, and flags at public institutions and security forces were to be flown at half-mast.
- Chile de luto por Sebastián Lelio: Gobierno decreta dos días de duelo oficial tras su muerte
BioBioChile · Reporting · 7 Nov 2026
Opened BioBioChile’s local report on the government decree and the two-day official mourning period.