La Bola Negra Wins Audience Award at 2026 BFI London Film Festival
The Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close film from Los Javis takes the festival's audience prize and opens in U.K. and Irish cinemas on Nov. 6.
La Bola Negra has won the audience award at the 2026 BFI London Film Festival, according to Variety. The film is directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, the duo known as Los Javis.
The cast includes Penélope Cruz, Glenn Close and Miguel Bernardeau. The film had its U.K. premiere at the festival on Oct. 8, where it played to sold-out audiences.
La Bola Negra has also been nominated for best international independent film at the British Independent Film Awards, and Spain selected it as its official submission for best international feature at the 2027 Academy Awards.
Altitude will release the film in U.K. and Irish cinemas on Nov. 6.
Previous audience award winners
The London Film Festival's audience award went to Chloé Zhao's Hamnet in 2025, Four Mothers in 2024 and Gassed Up in 2023. Calvo and Ambrossi previously created the Spanish TV series Veneno and Paquita Salas.
Quick answers
When does La Bola Negra open in U.K. cinemas?
Altitude will release the film in U.K. and Irish cinemas on Nov. 6.
Who stars in La Bola Negra?
The cast includes Penélope Cruz, Glenn Close and Miguel Bernardeau.
Who directed La Bola Negra?
Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, known as Los Javis, directed the film.