Cannes Best Director Winner ‘La Bola Negra’ Given Release Date By Netflix

Here is the press release from Netflix announcing the release date for La Bola Negra, which won the Best Director prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Take a look:

Following a highly competitive bidding war, Netflix has officially closed the U.S. rights to the Cannes Film Festival sensation La Bola Negra. The film will debut on Netflix on December 4, 2026 preceded by a theatrical run on November 6, 2026 in the U.S. 

The sweeping drama, directed, co-written and produced by the Spanish duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi (popularly known as Los Javis), lit up the Croisette and won the Best Director prize at the festival’s closing ceremony.

“When we began writing La Bola Negra, we wanted to tell a story about freedom, legacy, and the importance of LGBTQ+ visibility. Above all, we wanted to honor the generations of people whose courage and sacrifice made our freedoms possible today. 

We couldn’t imagine a better home than Netflix to bring this story to audiences across the United States. We are deeply grateful and excited that its message will reach millions of viewers and help carry Federico García Lorca’s legacy to audiences around the world. This is the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter for La Bola Negra, and we can’t wait for audiences to discover it.” – Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, in a joint statement

La Bola Negra is a bold, passionate triptych spanning nearly a century of Spanish history from the 30s to modern day. The film tells the story of three men whose lives are intimately connected through desire, pain, and inheritance.

The ambitious epic is anchored by an extraordinary international cast, featuringSpanish music sensation Guitarricadelafuente making his acting debut, Elite star Miguel Bernardeau, alongside an incredible ensemble including Carlos González, Milo Quifes, Lola Dueñas, Julio Torres, Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close. Los Javis co-wrote La Bola Negra with Alberto Conejero. A Movistar Plus+ Original Film in collaboration with Suma Content Films, produced by Telefónica Audiovisual Digital and Los Esquiadores AIE, co-produced by El Deseo and Le Pacte, with the participation of Atresmedia and CREA SGR. World sales by Goodfellas. 

Emerging as a critical darling out of Cannes, the film has been widely praised as a cinematic achievement. Critics and audiences championed the directors for their ability to craft a moving, classically staged epic that powerfully explores themes of memory, love, and queer identity.