La Bola Negra wins Leiden festival’s 2026 audience prize

Spanish film *La Bola Negra*, directed by Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, has won the audience prize at the 2026 Leiden International Film Festival (LIFF), after receiving an average score of 4.75 from festivalgoers. It topped the audience ranking at the festival’s 21st edition. [1]

The film had its Dutch premiere at LIFF, where every screening sold out, and featured in the Emerging: Selections programme. It follows three men in different periods of Spanish history and draws inspiration from the life and work of poet Federico García Lorca.

Cinéart will release the film in Dutch cinemas on 21 January 2027. The cast includes Glenn Close and Penélope Cruz in supporting roles.

LIFF’s audience prize is decided by votes cast by festivalgoers after screenings. The film also won an audience award in Toronto. Nieuws.nl reports that it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won a major prize there. [1]