Kiss of the Spider Woman, a surreal prison drama, was also nominated for best picture at the Oscars, while William Hurt won best actor.
Babenco also directed 1987`s Ironweed with Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep.
Both Nicholson and Streep were nominated for best actor and actress Oscars in the film about an alcoholic drifter.
Babenco`s most recent film was last year`s My Hindu Friend, a film about a film director very close to death, starring Willem Dafoe.
Babenco leaves his wife Barbara and daughter Janka.
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