{"id":540,"date":"2026-05-23T11:05:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T11:05:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=540"},"modified":"2026-05-23T11:05:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T11:05:38","slug":"netflix-nears-deal-on-la-bola-negra-after-cannes-bidding-war-exclusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=540","title":{"rendered":"Netflix Nears Deal on \u2018La Bola Negra\u2019 After Cannes Bidding War (EXCLUSIVE)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>\n\tFollowing its buzzy Cannes premiere, Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo\u2019s \u201cLa Bola Negra\u201d (\u201cThe Black Ball\u201d) is selling to Netflix in deal believed to be in the $5 million-range. <\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=538\">U.K.-Nigeria-Hong Kong Romantic Comedy \u2018My Nigerian Fiance\u2019 in the Works (EXCLUSIVE)<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n\tThe ambitious film, which marked the Cannes competition debut for the filmmaking duo known collectively as Los Javis, earned a vibrant 16-minute standing ovation at its premiere on Thursday night. On Friday, multiple distributors, including Neon, A24 and Mubi circled the movie for the U.S. rights. The deal was negotiated by Goodfellas.<\/p>\n<p>\n\tThe sale marks the second major bidding war of this year\u2019s festival following Jordan Firstman\u2019s \u201cClub Kid,\u201d which ultimately landed at A24 in a $17 million acquisition. <\/p>\n<p>\n\t\u201cThe Black Ball\u201d \u2014 a queer epic spanning 85 years of Spanish history and inspired by an unfinished fragment by Spanish poet and playwright Federico Garc\u00eda Lorca \u2014 is in contention for both the Palme d\u2019Or and the Queer Palm. Ambrossi and Calvo co-wrote the screenplay with playwright Alberto Conejero.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=536\">Masculinity Satire Australian Animated Series \u2018Finally, a Show About Men!\u2019 Bows on YouTube (EXCLUSIVE)<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n\tThe story traces the interconnected lives of three gay men across three eras \u2014 1932, 1937, and 2017 \u2014 braiding together stories of desire, loss, and what one generation bequeaths to the next. The film\u2019s title alludes to a mode of social rejection: a black ball cast into a voting urn to deny a young gay man entry into a Granada club. The film stars Spanish singer-songwriter Guitarricadelafuente in his screen debut, alongside Miguel Bernardeau, Carlos Gonz\u00e1lez, Milo Quifes and Lola Due\u00f1as, with Glenn Close in a supporting role and Pen\u00e9lope Cruz contributing an extended cameo. <em>Variety\u2019<\/em>s Guy Lodge described the film a having \u201ca florid formal approach and heart-on-sleeve emotionalism that will win it fans at home and abroad, both in and outside of the LGBT arthouse market.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\u201cThe Black Ball\u201d is co-produced by Movistar Plus+, Los Javis\u2019 Suma Content Films, Pedro and Agust\u00edn Almod\u00f3var\u2019s El Deseo and Le Pacte. <\/p>\n<p>\n\tNetflix has a track record with major Spanish-language awards contenders, notably Jacques Audiard\u2019s \u201cEmilia Perez\u201d which racked up 13 Oscar nominations including best picture, making it the most nominated non-English language film ever. The movie went on to win two Oscars \u2014 best supporting actress for Zoe Saldana and best original song for \u201cEl Mal.\u201d Netflix had also handled \u201cRoma,\u201d Alfonso Cuaron\u2019s black-and-white drama set in 1970s Mexico City, which ultimately landed 10 nomination and won three Oscars, best foreign-language film, best director and best cinematography.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=534\">\u2018Jim Queen\u2019 Review: Hilarious Adult Animation Plays Like French Queer \u2018South Park\u2019 on Literal Steroids, With Some Poppers for Good Measure<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n<em>Brent Lang contributed to this report. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Following its buzzy Cannes premiere, Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo\u2019s &#8216;La Bola Negra&#8217; (&#8216;The Black Ball&#8217;) is selling to Netflix.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":539,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[3,577],"class_list":["post-540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-film","tag-cannes-film-festival","tag-la-bola-negra"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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