Spain selects Los Javis film 'La bola negra' for 2027 International Feature Oscar race

Selection and academy vote

On 16 September 2026, the Spanish Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences announced that La bola negra, directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, will represent Spain at the Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. Filmmaker Alejandro Amenábar, who won the award in 2005 with Mar adentro, revealed the selection at the Academy headquarters in Madrid. The production secured the nomination over two shortlisted contenders, Rodrigo Sorogoyen's El ser querido and Alauda Ruiz de Azúa's Los domingos. Calvo and Ambrossi received the decision by videocall from the Toronto International Film Festival, where they presented the movie following its Best Director win at Cannes and a screening at Telluride.

“We are going to give everything we have to get as far as possible. Thank you very much for the trust. Here we go.”

Creative roots and thematic structure

The screenplay, co-written by the directing duo alongside Alberto Conejero, adapts elements from an unfinished theatrical piece by Federico García Lorca and Conejero's 2015 play La piedra oscura. The story examines queer memory and trauma by dramatizing the relationship between Lorca and Rafael Rodríguez Rapún across three distinct timelines with three different protagonists. The ensemble cast features Miguel Bernardeau, Guitarricadelafuente, Carlos González, Lola Dueñas, Glenn Close, and Penélope Cruz. In addition to acting in the film, Guitarricadelafuente collaborated with Raül Refree on the song La nieve, which was submitted for Oscar consideration in the original song category. The production also marked a personal transition for Calvo and Ambrossi, who ended their 13-year romantic relationship during filming while remaining creative partners.

Festival rollout and theatrical release

The promotional tour moves to the San Sebastián International Film Festival on 20 September 2026, where the title will screen in the Perlak section. Domestic distributor Elastica Films will release the film across Spanish theaters on 25 September 2026, with select venues projecting it on physical 35mm celluloid. The international rollout proceeds with an appearance at the New York Film Festival on 15 October 2026, followed by a theatrical premiere in North America on 16 October 2026. Netflix, which co-produced the project alongside Suma Content, Movistar Plus, El Deseo, Le Pacte, and Atresmedia Cine, committed to a 47-day theatrical window in the United States before adding the film to its streaming catalogue.

Hollywood campaign and nomination forecasts

The release strategy establishes an extensive promotional campaign in the United States, backed by Netflix and sustained festival visibility. Trade publications published early projections for the film across several Oscar categories. Variety projected up to seven nominations, including Best Picture, Best International Feature, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The Hollywood Reporter expanded that potential range to 14 nominations, including Best Director and a Best Supporting Actress bid for Penélope Cruz. The campaign will proceed through industry screenings before the Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

Variety7

The Hollywood Reporter14

Variety

7 nominations

The Hollywood Reporter

14 nominations

Data from the article text