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“La Bola Negra,” the queer historical drama from Spanish filmmaking duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, collectively known as Los Javis, has won the audience award at the 2026 BFI London Film Festival.
The film, which
stars Penélope Cruz, Glenn Close and Miguel Bernardeau, has also earned a nomination for best international independent film at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) ahead of its U.K theatrical release.
The latest recognition follows the film’s U.K. premiere at the London Film Festival on Oct. 8, where it played to sold-out audiences. Previous recipients of the festival’s audience award include Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet” in 2025, “Four Mothers” in 2024 and “Gassed Up” in 2023.
“We are absolutely delighted that ‘La Bola Negra’ has won the BFI London Film Festival Audience Award,” Calvo and Ambrossi said in a joint statement. “It was a real pleasure to bring the film to London in October, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who came to see it and voted for us. To receive this recognition from audiences is particularly meaningful.”
Inspired by the unfinished final work of Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca and a play by Alberto Conejero, “La Bola Negra” follows three men whose lives are connected across three different periods: 1932, 1937 and 2017. Spanning three generations, the film explores queer identity, forbidden love and the ways personal histories are preserved or erased over time.
The ensemble cast also includes Lola Dueñas, Carlos González and Spanish musician Guitarricadelafuente, who makes his feature film acting debut.
Inspired by the unfinished final work of Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca and a play by Alberto Conejero, “La Bola Negra” follows three men whose lives are connected across three different periods: 1932, 1937 and 2017. Spanning three generations, the film explores queer identity, forbidden love and the ways personal histories are preserved or erased over time.
The ensemble cast also includes Lola Dueñas, Carlos González and Spanish musician Guitarricadelafuente, who makes his feature film acting debut.
Spain has additionally selected the film as its official submission for best international feature at the 2027 Academy Awards.
Calvo and Ambrossi previously created the acclaimed Spanish television series “Veneno,” which chronicled the life of transgender icon Cristina Ortiz Rodríguez, as well as the musical comedy series “Paquita Salas.” Their latest feature continues the filmmakers’ exploration of queer identity and overlooked histories on a larger, decades-spanning scale.
Altitude will release “La Bola Negra” in U.K. and Irish cinemas on Nov. 6.
