Full Breakdown
Spanish Directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi Win Cannes Best Director Award for “La bola negra”
5/26/2026, 2:18:09 AM
Cannes Best Director Win
On Thursday, May 2024, the Cannes Film Festival awarded the Best Director prize to the Movistar Plus film *La bola negra*. The award was shared ex aequo with Pawel Pawlikowski, director of *Fatherland*. This was the second Cannes Best Director award for a Spanish film, after Pedro Almodóvar’s 1999 win for *All About My Mother*.
Historical Context and Significance
Three Movistar Plus productions—*La bola negra* (Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi), *The Beloved* (*El ser querido*, directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen), and *Bitter Christmas* (*Amarga Navidad*, directed by Pedro Almodóvar)—competed in the 2024 Official Competition. The Best Director win highlights the growing international profile of Spanish auteur cinema and marks a rare Cannes accolade for the nation.
Production Details
Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi wrote, directed and produced *La bola negra*. The film is a co-production of Movistar Plus, Suma Content Films, El Deseo and Le Pacte, with participation from Atresmedia. Goodfellas handles international sales; Elástica Films will distribute the Spanish theatrical release.
Timeline of Key Milestones
- May 2024: Cannes screening and Best Director award (shared with Pawel Pawlikowski).
- October 2 2026: Spanish theatrical release (Elástica Films).
- Post-theatrical: Exclusive streaming on Movistar Plus.
Data & Statistics
Standing ovation: 20 minutes. Cannes Best Director awards to Spanish films: two (1999, 2024). Production partners: four entities plus Atresmedia. International sales agent: Goodfellas.
Official Statements & Responses
Javier Calvo said the award was unexpected, praised fellow directors, and emphasized the film’s educational role and its potential to lessen artistic burdens for future generations. Javier Ambrossi stressed the duty to honor LGBTQ+ predecessors, describing the film as a means to secure greater freedom for upcoming generations. Both thanked the Cannes jury and highlighted the collaborative effort behind the project.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I never imagined I would be here with this award. The other directors are incredible. We are huge fans of this festival. We learned so much while making this film, and I hope many generations will learn from it too. I never imagined being here with this award, learning from your voices. I share it with Almodóvar and Sorogoyen. This film speaks about the importance of art, of others. Art makes us better and transforms us from within. I only hope that with every generation, the burden becomes smaller, and that art and cinema continue helping more and more in that process” — Javier Calvo, Director
- “Thank you so much to the festival and this extraordinary jury. This goes far beyond anything I could ever have imagined in my life. When I started working, I often asked myself whether I was honouring those who came before me. And while directing this film, I realised that the only way to honour the LGBTQ+ people who came before us was to make sure they are remembered. We hope future generations will have at least more freedom. This means everything. Thank you to this extraordinary team” — Javier Ambrossi, Director
Impact and Significance
By adapting an unfinished work of Federico García Lorca, *La bola negra* links classic Spanish literature with contemporary LGBTQ+ narratives, reinforcing the film’s cultural relevance and showcasing Spanish cinema’s capacity for innovative storytelling on the global stage.
On-the-Ground Reports
Festival audiences gave the film a 20-minute standing ovation, reflecting immediate critical and public approval.
What's Next
*La bola negra* opens in Spanish cinemas on October 2 2026 (Elástica Films) and will stream exclusively on Movistar Plus after its theatrical run.
