Penelope Cruz Lights Up Los Javis’ Queer García Lorca Epic ‘The Black Ball,’ Earning 16-Minute Cannes Ovation

May 21, 2026 1:23pm PT Penelope Cruz Lights Up Los Javis’ Queer García Lorca Epic ‘The Black Ball,’ Earning 16-Minute Cannes Ovation

By Naman Ramachandran

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Naman Ramachandran

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Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo’s “The Black Ball” (La Bola Negra) a queer epic spanning 85 years of Spanish history and inspired by an unfinished fragment by Federico García Lorca, premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday to a 16-minute standing ovation.

The premiere marks the Cannes competition debut for the filmmaking duo known collectively as Los Javis, who have built an ardent international following with the series “Veneno” and “La Mesías.”

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