New York, Oct. 21, 2026 : Spanish film La Bola Negra, directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, has emerged as a contender in the 2027 Academy Awards race after receiving recognition at the Cannes Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, according to a report by Variety.
The film follows gay men across three periods in Spanish history and stars musician Guitarricadelafuente and actor Miguel Bernardeau. Netflix acquired the film and scheduled a 47-day theatrical release beginning Oct. 16, Variety reported.
The story moves between 1932, 1937 and 2017. It examines homosexuality, political conflict and the legacy of Spain’s Civil War and subsequent dictatorship. In the 1937 storyline, Guitarricadelafuente plays Sebastián, a soldier, while Bernardeau portrays Rafael Rodríguez Rapún, a prisoner of war with whom he develops a relationship.
The film also features Penélope Cruz as singer Nené Romero and Glenn Close in a supporting role. Its historical narrative draws connections to the life and legacy of Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca.
“It wasn’t hard to fall in love with him,” Bernardeau said of working with Guitarricadelafuente in an interview with Variety. He added that the challenge was creating the conflict required by the story.
The actors underwent military preparation for their roles, including training in how to handle rifles, Guitarricadelafuente told Variety. His character is a musician who hopes to pursue a career playing the trumpet, despite being caught up in the Spanish Civil War.
The directors said they wanted the film to explore queer relationships without simplifying the historical and social circumstances surrounding them. Calvo said in the interview that films can help audiences develop empathy for people and communities whose experiences differ from their own.
The production received a 20-minute standing ovation at Cannes, according to Variety, and shared the festival’s best director prize. It subsequently won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, the publication reported.
The film’s reception has increased expectations surrounding its awards-season prospects. However, its chances of winning an Academy Award remain uncertain.
The casting also reflects the directors’ stated interest in placing LGBTQ+ performers and stories at the centre of major film productions. Guitarricadelafuente, whose real name is Álvaro Lafuente Calvo, made his acting debut in the film. Bernardeau is known internationally for the Netflix series Elite.
Netflix’s theatrical release gives audiences an opportunity to see the film in cinemas before its streaming debut. The company has previously received Academy Awards recognition for international productions, although it has yet to win the best picture Oscar.
The Academy Awards ceremony is expected to take place in 2027. No Oscar nomination for *La Bola Negra* had been confirmed in the information cited in the Variety report.