UPDATED with release date change: Netflix has moved up the theatrical release date of its Cannes winner La Bola Negra to October 16, with a drop on the streaming service set for December 2. That gives the Los Javis-directed movie a 46-day theatrical window, the longest ever for the streamer ahead of the 30 days given Noah Baumbach’s Oscar winner Marriage Story in 2019.
La Bola Negra is receiving a U.S. platform release.
Netflix also has scooped up the rights to La Bola Negra in Canada, where the film has been selected for the Toronto Film Festival’s Special Presentations section. One of the film’s stars, Oscar winner Penélope Cruz, will receive a Special Tribute Award at the TIFF Tribute Awards.
PREVIOUSLY, June 24: Netflix is giving its Cannes pick-up La Bola Negraa 28-day theatrical window beginning November 6. The movie, which won the Best Director award at Cannes for Javier Ambrosia and Javier Calvo (known as Los Javis), will debut on Netflix on December 4.
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La Bola Negra spans nearly a century of Spanish history from the 1930s to modern day. The film tells the story of three men whose lives are intimately connected through desire, pain and inheritance. La Bola Negra received a 20-minute standing ovation at its Cannes world premiere.
Said the filmmakers in a joint statement: “When we began writing La Bola Negra, we wanted to tell a story about freedom, legacy, and the importance of LGBTQ+ visibility. Above all, we wanted to honor the generations of people whose courage and sacrifice made our freedoms possible today.”
They added, “We couldn’t imagine a better home than Netflix to bring this story to audiences across the United States. We are deeply grateful and excited that its message will reach millions of viewers and help carry Federico García Lorca’s legacy to audiences around the world. This is the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter for La Bola Negra, and we can’t wait for audiences to discover it.”
La Bola Negra‘s cast includes Spanish music star Guitarricadelafuente making his acting debut, Elite star Miguel Bernardeau, Carlos González, Milo Quifes, Lola Duenas, Julio Torres, Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close. Los Javis co-wrote La Bola Negra with Alberto Conejero and produced alongside Jorge Pezzi.
La Bola Negra is the first feature from Calvo and Ambrossi since 2017’s Holy Camp! The duo’s last project was the Movistar Plus+ series La Mesías (2023), which premiered at the San Sebastian Film Festival and screened at the Sundance Film Festival.
Goodfellas and CAA Media Finance sold La Bola Negra at Cannes, with U.S. rights going for $4M-$5M to Netflix.
