Netflix gay epic La Bola Negra wins TIFF award, putting it on Oscars radar
The queer epic explores the intertwined lives of three gay men, moving between 1932, 1937 and 2017
By Aaron Sugg
Spanish gay epic La Bola Negra won the People’s Choice Award at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), making it a major potential Oscars contender.
Directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, also known as “Los Javis”, were absent from the award ceremony yesterday (20 September), but left a note that was read out on their behalf.
“So knowing that audiences have connected with it and made it their own is the greatest gift we could receive,” festival CEO Cameron Bailey read aloud.
Last year’s winner, Hamnet, went on to receive eight Oscar nominations, as have previous winners, making La Bola Negra possibly the one to beat at the 2027 Oscars.
The queer epic explores the intertwined lives of three gay men, moving between 1932 during the Second Spanish Republic, 1937 during the Spanish Civil War, and 2017 in modern-day Spain.
Who stars in La Bola Negra
La Bola Negra stars Milo Quifes as Carlos, who longs to belong in a divided Spain; Guitarricadelafuente as Sebastián, who finds connection across enemy lines during the Spanish Civil War; and, 80 years later, Carlos González as Alberto, who discovers a buried family secret.
Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close also appear in the film as Nené Romero and Isabelle.
The film takes its name from an unfinished play by gay Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca, who was assassinated in 1936. The film explores his far-left legacy through a contemporary lens.
La Bola Negra explores “freedom, legacy and the importance of LGBTQ+ visibility”
Speaking to Tudum, Calvo and Ambrossi said: “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 honour the generations of people whose courage and sacrifice made our freedoms possible today.”
Netflix has acquired the US rights and is set for a cinematic release on 16 October, followed by its release on Netflix on 2 December. La Bola Negra will be released in the UK and Ireland on 6 November through Altitude.