Documentary filmmaker Tim Hetherington -- who was nominated for an Oscar for the Afghanistan war movie "Restrepo" -- was killed today while working on a project in Libya.

According to reports, three photogs who were working with Hetherington were also injured in a skirmish between rebels and government forces ... including one man who suffered a critical brain injury.
The group was reportedly hit by a rocket propelled grenade.
Hetherington was reportedly rushed to a hospital with extensive shrapnel wounds -- but he was already dead by the time he arrived.
Hetherington was 41-years-old.












