‘La Bola Negra’ to receive International Star Award at 2027 Palm Springs International Film Awards
PALM SPRINGS, CA (KESQ)- Netflix’s La Bola Negra, directed by acclaimed Spanish filmmakers Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, will receive the International Star Award at the 2027 Palm Springs International Film Awards.
The announcement was made November 6, with the film’s directors and cast members Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau and Penélope Cruz expected to attend the award presentation on January 7, 2027, at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
The Palm Springs International Film Festival will run January 7–18, 2027. The Film Awards will be presented by Kering, with Entertainment Tonight and Soho House serving as sponsors and Cadillac as the official vehicle.
“With La Bola Negra, Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi have created a beautiful and moving film that brings together stories across generations and cultures,” said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. He praised Guitarricadelafuente’s first film performance, Bernardeau’s role as the film’s emotional anchor and Cruz’s portrayal of Nené, describing the production as a special achievement deserving of recognition.
Spanning nearly a century of Spanish history, La Bola Negra weaves together the lives of three generations of men whose experiences are connected through desire, pain and love. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Guitarricadelafuente, Bernardeau, Carlos González, Milo Quifes, Lola Dueñas, Julio Torres, Cruz and Glenn Close.
The film has already generated significant international attention, earning 16 Audience Awards at festivals around the world, including top honors at the Toronto International Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival. It made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received a reported 20-minute standing ovation and earned Calvo and Ambrossi the Best Director prize.
The International Star Award adds to an already notable lineup of honorees announced for the 2027 ceremony. Previously announced recipients include Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde and Penélope Cruz for The Invite, Edward Norton, who will receive the Vanguard Award, and Inde Navarette, recipient of the Rising Star Award.
Last year's International Star Award went to the ensemble cast of Sentimental Value, including Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning. All four performers subsequently received Academy Award nominations.
With its acclaimed festival reception, celebrated creative team and international ensemble cast, La Bola Negra is shaping up to be one of the standout films recognized during the 2027 awards season. Its recognition at Palm Springs further underscores the growing international reach of Spanish-language cinema.
