Film director Anthony Minghella, who won an Oscar for The English Patient, has died aged 54.
Minghella won the Academy Award for best director in 1996 for the wartime romance starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche. No details about his death were immediately released.
Film producer David Puttnam said it was a "shattering blow".
"He was a great guy, a very, very nice man, a brilliant writer, excellent director and someone who contributed more than most to our industry," Puttnam told BBC News 24.
"He's going to be hugely missed."
Minghella was nominated for an Oscar for his screenplay for the crime thriller The Talented Mr Ripley. He also wrote the screenplay for Cold Mountain. Previous films included Truly Madly Deeplyand Mr. Wonderful.
In recent months Minghella had been making a film adaptation of Alexander McCall Smith's novel, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agencyfor the BBC.
The English Patient, based on author Michael Ondaatje's novel, was an unexpected global hit.
