Spain has selected Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo’s La bola negra as its official entry for Best International Feature at the upcoming Academy Awards. Alejandro Amenábar announced the decision as Spain seeks its first win in the category since Mar adentro in 2004. The Spanish Film Academy says this is only the fifth time Spain has put forward a film for the award.
La bola negra has gained unusual momentum for a Spanish film. After sharing the Best Director prize at Cannes with Polish filmmaker Pavel Pawlikowski, it has become a favorite among critics and industry watchers. Variety predicts up to six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Casting, Production Design, Costume Design, and International Feature. IndieWire points to Penélope Cruz’s supporting role as a possible double nomination, thanks to her work in both La bola negra and The Invite. RTVE reports that La bola negra was chosen over Los domingos by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa and El ser querido by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, following a close vote within the Spanish Film Academy.
TV Insider reports that La bola negra is scheduled for theatrical release in Spain on September 25, 2026, with international premieres in New York and Los Angeles set for October 16 and a streaming debut in the US and Canada on December 2.
The film tells three stories set in 1932, 1937, and 2017. Each follows a different man, connected by the memory of Federico García Lorca, desire, inherited pain, and secrets passed down through generations. The first story, set during the Spanish Civil War, follows a young man (Guitarricadelafuente) whose life is changed by violence and loss. The second, set in pre-war Granada, centers on a young man (Milo Quifes) facing social exclusion for his desires. The third takes place in the present and follows a grandson (Carlos González) uncovering a family secret that echoes old wounds.
The script draws from Alberto Conejero’s play, with Lorca’s poetry running throughout. The line "Tú nunca entenderás lo que te quiero porque duermes en mí y estás dormido" recurs as a motif of hidden longing and generational trauma. Each era has its own visual and emotional tone, but all are tied together by the same unresolved pain.
The cast brings together established actors and newcomers. Guitarricadelafuente and Milo Quifes make their acting debuts, while Carlos González and Lola Dueñas provide the film’s emotional anchor. Penélope Cruz’s role has drawn special attention, especially after her reaction to the film’s reception at Cannes.
The Spanish Film Academy has confirmed that the shortlist for the Best International Feature Oscar will be announced on December 15, 2026, with final nominations revealed on January 21, 2027. The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 14, 2027. The Academy’s statement describes La bola negra as one of Spain's strongest contenders in recent memory.
With its Spanish premiere set for September 25 and a sold-out screening at the San Sebastián Film Festival, La bola negra’s Oscar campaign is already underway. The film has also screened at Telluride and Toronto, and currently holds a 90% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on English-language reviews.
Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, known for Paquita Salas, Veneno, and La Mesías, have described the Oscar campaign as both daunting and exciting. Speaking from Toronto, they acknowledged the challenge: "We’re aware it’s going to be tough, but we’re happy to do it, not just for the nominations, but to see the film and its message reach as far as possible." Netflix, which is handling the Oscar push, has warned the directors to prepare for months of travel and promotion.
For Ambrossi and Calvo, the selection also marks a personal basic stage. "With the support of my country, I’m going to give it everything," Ambrossi said. Calvo added, "It’s incredible that Spain’s history and culture resonate so strongly here. There’s a wound that’s still fresh." Actor Carlos González echoed this, noting how Lorca’s story, rooted in Spanish identity, has found a wider audience by confronting themes of desire and mortality.
As the Oscar race heats up, La bola negra reflects a new confidence in Spanish cinema. Its historical reckoning and personal narrative, paired with artistic ambition, have set it apart at festivals. The selection puts the film in contention to end Spain’s two-decade Oscar drought and signals a willingness among Spanish filmmakers to face the past directly and honestly.
