In loving memory of Santiago Stelley.

Beloved husband, devoted father, and a creative force who changed the lives of everyone around him.

Santiago was one of those rare people who made the world feel bigger. He lived with curiosity, humor, and a relentless belief in possibility. Whether you met him through work, through a wild idea, or halfway across the world on a shoot, Santiago had a way of making you feel like your voice and point of view mattered.

He didn’t just create. He made people believe in what they could create. His vision wasn’t limited to film; that was simply the medium he used in this lifetime. His true gift was connection. He inspired others to take the unconventional path, to dream bigger than the frame, and to tell stories that mattered. Through his work and his spirit, he shaped culture not only by what he created but by how he elevated those around him.

If early VICE documentaries like Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia, Colombian Devil’s Breath, Sewers of Bogota, Suicide Forest, or Interview with a Cannibal (Issei Sagawa) ever pulled you into a world you didn’t expect, then you’ve already felt Santiago’s impact.

He was a modern-day storyteller and mythmaker, someone who came back from every journey with unbelievable stories, lots of laughter, and little gifts like snacks and trinkets from around the globe so we could feel like we had been there with him. His legacy lives on in the people he touched, the stories he told, and the worlds he opened for others.

He leaves behind his wife, Yuka, and their two little boys, Jiro and Oto, who are still so young. Too young to understand a world without their father.

How You Can Help:

This fund has been created because so many people reached out wanting to help, wanting to show up for the family the way Santiago showed up for others. All contributions will go directly to Yuka and the boys and will be used to:

The Goal is Simple:

Give Yuka, Jiro, and Oto room to grieve, to breathe, and to begin to rebuild.

If Santiago ever encouraged you, inspired you, opened a door, shared his courage, or made you laugh when things felt impossible, please consider supporting his family now.

No amount is too small.

Sharing this page is also a meaningful contribution.

The beneficiary on this GoFundMe is Yuka, Santiago’s wife. She is currently in Spain with their two young children, and all funds will be sent directly to her through GoFundMe’s beneficiary transfer. I (Adri Murguia) am organizing this fundraiser as a friend of the family, but Yuka is the one who will receive the funds.

Thank you for honoring Santiago’s life not only with donations, but by continuing to do what he modeled so effortlessly: champion others, choose curiosity, and live with heart.

With gratitude,

-Friends of Santiago, Yuka, Jiro and Oto