CANNES – Academy Award-winning actress Penélope Cruz will lead the cast of La Bola Negra, the latest feature from Spanish filmmakers Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, collectively known as Los Javis.
The film is being produced by Movistar Plus+ and Suma Content Films, in co-production with French company Le Pacte. International sales outside Spain and France will be managed by French sales agency Goodfellas, as announced Monday during the Cannes Film Festival.
La Bola Negra is slated for an exclusive theatrical release in 2026, followed by a streaming launch on Movistar Plus+.
Joining Cruz are singer Guitarricadelafuente in his screen debut, Miguel Bernardeau (Elite), Carlos González (Veneno), and award-winning actress Lola Dueñas (The Sea Inside, La Mesías).
“We wrote Penélope’s role with her in mind. Her humor and elegance make her wonderful to work with,” said Calvo at the Cannes presentation.
The film draws inspiration from Federico García Lorca’s unfinished play La bola negra and Alberto Conejero’s La piedra oscura. It tells the stories of three men across different time periods, connected by themes of sexuality, desire, pain, and legacy.
“Our work began with historical research, then evolved through a literary collaboration with Alberto Conejero,” said Ambrossi. “We blended theatrical elements with imagination and introspection. Presenting this cast in Cannes is a joy—there’s more to reveal soon.”
Calvo described the writing process as deeply personal. “It felt less like inventing and more like discovering something already inside us. This story helped us reconnect with why we tell stories in the first place.”
This marks the first feature film under Suma Content Films, the new cinema division of Ambrossi and Calvo’s production company. Their previous project, the series La Mesías, premiered at San Sebastián, screened at Sundance, and earned multiple Feroz and Forqué awards.
Guillermo Farré, head of original and Spanish cinema at Movistar Plus+, praised the new project. “After the creative success of La Mesías, this film is a bold step forward. It’s driven by the passion for telling powerful, original stories.”
Le Pacte president Jean Labadie added: “We were captivated by La bola negra. After falling in love with La Mesías, we received the script and immediately said yes. It’s smart, emotional, and beautifully written.”
Goodfellas, whose 2025 Cannes lineup includes five official selection titles, echoed the excitement. “This film is bold, visually striking, and emotionally rich. From the first scene, it grips you. It confirms Ambrossi and Calvo as key voices in European cinema.”
Production begins in August and will take place across various locations in Spain and Europe.
Key crew from La Mesías are returning, including cinematographer Gris Jordana, art director Roger Bellés, costume designer Ana López Cobos, and composer Raül Refree.
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