Netflix has secured U.S. rights to La Bola Negra (The Black Ball), the sweeping queer drama that emerged as one of the most talked-about titles at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
The acquisition follows a competitive bidding war that reportedly drew interest from several major distributors, including Neon, A24 and Mubi. According to Variety, the deal is believed to be worth around $5 million, making it one of the festival’s biggest sales.
Directed by Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, the acclaimed Spanish creative duo known collectively as Los Javis, La Bola Negra made a powerful impression during its Cannes premiere, where it received a 16-minute standing ovation. The film marks the pair’s first entry into Cannes’ main competition and immediately positioned itself as a contender for both the Palme d’Or and the Queer Palm.
A Queer Story Spanning Generations
Inspired by an unfinished fragment written by celebrated Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca, La Bola Negra unfolds across 85 years of Spanish history.
The film follows the lives of three gay men living in different eras: 1932, 1937 and 2017. Their stories intersect across decades, exploring love, grief and the lasting impact one generation leaves behind for the next.
Its title references a form of social exclusion. In the story, a black ball is cast into a voting urn to prevent a young gay man from joining a club in Granada. That act becomes a powerful symbol of rejection, identity and resilience that echoes throughout the narrative.
Ambrossi and Calvo co-wrote the screenplay alongside playwright Alberto Conejero.
Music Star Guitarricadelafuente Makes His Acting Debut
One of the film’s biggest draws is the screen debut of Spanish singer-songwriter Guitarricadelafuente, who leads an ensemble cast that includes Miguel Bernardeau, Carlos González, Milo Quifes and Lola Dueñas.
The project also features Oscar nominee Glenn Close in a supporting role, while Oscar winner Penélope Cruz appears in an extended cameo.
Critics have already responded enthusiastically. In Variety’s review from Cannes, critic Guy Lodge praised the film’s emotional ambition and visual style, writing that its “florid formal approach and heart-on-sleeve emotionalism” could help it find audiences both within and beyond LGBTQ arthouse circles.
For Los Javis, whose work has often centered queer characters and stories, the film represents their most ambitious project to date. The directors have become influential voices in Spanish entertainment through projects such as Veneno and La Mesías, both of which earned acclaim for their bold storytelling and LGBTQ representation.
Another Major Cannes Acquisition
The race for La Bola Negra became one of the hottest acquisition battles at Cannes this year.
Only one film generated a larger buying frenzy: Jordan Firstman‘s Club Kid, which ultimately landed at A24 in a reported $17 million deal. Together, the two sales underscored growing demand for distinctive queer stories on the international market.
The film was negotiated internationally by Goodfellas on behalf of the filmmakers.
Production partners include Movistar Plus+, Suma Content Films, Pedro and Agustín Almodóvar’s El Deseo and French distributor Le Pacte.
Netflix’s Awards Playbook
Netflix has built a strong reputation for backing high-profile Spanish-language films with awards potential, making La Bola Negra a natural fit for the streamer.
In recent years, the company has helped bring major international titles to global audiences, including Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez, which earned 13 Academy Award nominations and won two Oscars. Netflix was also behind Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma, which collected 10 Oscar nominations and won three Academy Awards, including Best Director.
While awards season remains months away, La Bola Negra is already generating significant buzz. Between its Cannes reception, prestigious creative team and emotionally rich story, the film appears poised to become one of the most closely watched LGBTQ releases on the horizon.
A release date has not yet been announced, but Netflix’s acquisition ensures that one of Cannes’ biggest queer success stories will soon reach a much wider audience.
