Oscar winning Searching for Sugar Man director dies aged 36

Acclaimed Swedish film director Malik Bendjelloul died late Tuesday; cause of death is yet to be revealed.

15:28 14 May 2014

36-year-old Malik Bendjelloul, the acclaimed director behind the award-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man, has died late Tuesday as confirmed by his family. 

 

Police spokeswoman Pia Glenvik has told Associated Press that no crime is suspected but wouldn’t specify the cause of death. 

 

The police also had no comment when asked where the body was found. As for the family, they also refused to comment and have asked for privacy. 

 

Malik’s film Searching for Sugar Man, which detailed the life and career of American singer Sixto Rodriguez, won the Oscar for best documentary in 2013. The runaway success also won the BAFTA, Director's Guild of America, Producer's Guild of America, Writer's Guild of America and Sundance audience award.

 

Bendjelloul directed, produced, edited and co-wrote the 2012 film that chronicles two South Africans who set out to find their folk music hero who apparently died many years ago.