'La bola negra', the new Movistar Plus original film written, directed and produced by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, celebrated its world premiere yesterday in the Official Competition of the Cannes Film Festival, receiving a 20-minute standing ovation from the audience and joining the ranking of the most applauded films in the festival’s history. 'La bola negra' has also won over critics, who have already praised the film enthusiastically. Kyle Buchanan, journalist for The New York Times, wrote yesterday: “Finally, a great electrifying movie in competition,” among many other glowing reactions.
The film’s journey at the festival continues. This morning, the film was presented to the press by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi alongside cast members Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau, Carlos González, Milo Quifes, Lola Dueñas and Penélope Cruz.
Javier Calvo: “It was destiny that led us to Lorca’s story. During a trip, while we were writing ‘La Mesías’, we brought along the book ‘La piedra oscura’. When I read it, I started crying uncontrollably. We felt there was something there that needed to be told. Creation is a mystery, and mystery brought us there. It was a story that began with realistic characters and ended with poetic ones. We realised we also had to put something of ourselves into it, and that is how Alberto’s story emerged [...] There is something important about Federico, and that is that people have never truly spoken about his sexuality and emotional sensitivity because they claimed it was not present in his work, but that is not true. When ‘The Sonnets of Dark Love’ were published, the word ‘dark’ was removed. The LGBTQ+ community loses a role model when figures like Lorca are made invisible”.
Javier Ambrossi: “That young generation that today feels nostalgic for dictatorships is, in reality, simply ignorant. I would love for 15-year-olds who watch the film to discover Lorca. The perspective we want to bring is that only communication and dialogue can bring us closer together; everything else leads to the worst outcomes [...] An important aspect of this film is the impossibility of making decisions. I do not believe LGBTQ+ films should be treated as niche cinema. They can be just as grand as any other film, telling stories with universal emotions that speak to all audiences [...] We have come to Cannes in previous years to watch films, and what is beautiful this time is that the film itself has opened the path for us. I am here to embrace whatever happens”.
Guitarricadelafuente: “La bola negra’ has been like a dream. When I received the script, I was astonished. My character loses everything around him. Meeting Rafael becomes an anchor for him, a way to find a glimpse of love. It has been deeply emotional”.
Miguel Bernardeau: “Working with Los Javis has been incredibly moving. There was something very special about this shoot. They make you feel truly cared for. It’s a journey I will always carry with me”.
Carlos González: “For this film, I had to work on loneliness, because I’m actually a very social person and I needed to stay focused and not lose sight of the character. The film leads us to reclaim visibility, because queer people are also part of history”.
Milo Quifes: “This was my first time in front of a camera. It was a joy to work with my boys. It’s curious because, just as I got to know Carlos through playing him, it also felt as though Carlos was helping me discover something about myself”.
Lola Dueñas: “I couldn’t be more grateful to work again with Los Javis after ‘La Mesías’. I loved playing another mother with them, and such a different kind of mother this time”.
Penélope Cruz: “I have been fascinated by Los Javis since their very first film, and ‘La Mesías’ amazed me. They told me they had a role for me, although it was a small one. Supporting a project like this is important. What they have done with ‘La bola negra’ could be very powerful for the younger generations who watch the film [...] To me, the character of Nené represents that freedom that leaves a lasting mark on Guitarricadelafuente’s character. The musical numbers frightened me, but they also made me very happy because I spent 20 years dancing. We worked intensely on the choreography, although singing almost scared me even more”.
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With 'La bola negra', Movistar Plus concludes a historic edition of the Cannes Film Festival with three titles in the Official Competition. In previous days, the festival also hosted 'The Beloved' ('El ser querido'), the Movistar Plus original film directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, and 'Bitter Christmas' ('Amarga Navidad'), by Pedro Almodóvar, with the prominent participation of Movistar Plus.
'La bola negra' will be released in Spanish cinemas on October 2, 2026, distributed by Elástica Films. Following its theatrical run, the film will premiere exclusively on Movistar Plus. 'La bola negra' is produced by Movistar Plus and Suma Content Films in co-production with El Deseo and Le Pacte, with the participation of Atresmedia. Goodfellas will handle international sales.
SYNOPSIS
LA BOLA NEGRA tells the story of three men whose lives are intimately connected through desire, pain and inheritance, across three different eras - 1932, 1937, and 2017.
Online version of the press release.
