‘La Bola Negra’ Trailer: Latest Look At TIFF’s People’s Choice Winner, Spain’s Oscar Entry & Cannes Breakout — SkimNews
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- Netflix released the official trailer for 'La Bola Negra,' a Spanish drama directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi (collectively Los Javis) that earned a 20-minute standing ovation and the Best Director award at its Cannes world premiere.
- 'La Bola Negra' explores LGBT legacy and pays tribute to murdered Spanish poet Federico García Lorca through interconnected stories of three men across the eras 1932, 1937, and 2017, starring Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau, Penélope Cruz, Lola Dueñas, and Glenn Close.
- 'La Bola Negra' has been submitted by Spain for the Oscar Best International Feature race and won the People's Choice Award at TIFF — an established Oscar bellwether — cementing its awards-season frontrunner status.
- Netflix will release 'La Bola Negra' theatrically on October 16 with a rare 46-day theatrical window before its streaming debut on December 2, signaling a major awards-season theatrical play.
- Netflix secured U.S. distribution rights in a record-breaking seven-figure domestic deal brokered by Goodfellas and CAA Media Finance, with international sales covering 14-plus territories including Israel (New Cinemas), India (Impact Films), Japan (Transformer), South Korea (Challan), and across Europe.
- 'La Bola Negra' is an original production by Movistar Plus+ Film and Suma Content Films, co-produced with El Deseo (Pedro Almodóvar's company) and Le Pacte, with participation from Atresmedia.
Why it matters: The 46-day theatrical window is unusually long for a Netflix title, suggesting the streamer is treating 'La Bola Negra' as an awards-season priority rather than a direct-to-platform release. With Spain's Oscar submission plus the TIFF People's Choice win — historically a Best International Feature bellwether — Los Javis have a genuine path to a nomination, and Netflix gets prestige validation for its theatrical gamble.
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