With submissions for the 99th Academy Awards now closed, Spain's official entry is "La Bola Negra," the Cannes Best Director winner from Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, the directing team known as Los Javis.
The film spans three distinct periods: 1932, the years of the Spanish Civil War, and 2017. Each chapter examines queer desire and repression in a different visual register. Penélope Cruz plays Nené Romero, a cabaret performer. Glenn Close appears briefly as a historian. "La Bola Negra" is Los Javis' second feature film, following "La llamada."
The selection came over two other finalists: Alauda Ruiz de Azúa's "Los Domingos" and Rodrigo Sorogoyen's "El ser querido," which starred Javier Bardem. The choice signals confidence in an internationally legible story tied to Spain's 20th-century history.
The international field this year is packed with festival winners. Romania entered Cristian Mungiu's "Fjord," which took the Palme d'Or at Cannes 2026. Denmark submitted May el-Toukhy's "Woman Unknown," the Venice Golden Lion winner. South Korea's entry is Park Chan-wook's "No Other Choice." France has shortlisted films including Andrey Zvyagintsev's "Minotaur," which won the Cannes Grand Prix.
Spain last won Best International Feature in 2005, with Alejandro Amenábar's "Mar adentro." A shortlist of 15 films will be announced December 15, 2026, with nominees revealed January 21, 2027.
