La Bola Negra wins Toronto Film Festival prize

Spanish drama “La Bola Negra” (“The Black Ball”) won the top prize at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, marking the first major recognition for the feature film, which will represent Spain at the Oscars, AFP and DPA reported Monday.

Directed by Spanish duo Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, known as the “Javis,” the 2-hour-and-35-minute film spans several periods, including the crucial years of the Spanish Civil War, which pitted the Republican government against a military and nationalist uprising led by General Franco from 1936 to 1939, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

The film, which won the People’s Choice Award, weaves together the stories of three men living in different periods in Spain, all facing social oppression because of their homosexuality. The first story follows a young man rejected from an exclusive club in 1932 because of his homosexuality; the second depicts the emergence of desire between two enemy soldiers during the Spanish Civil War; and the third follows a young gay historian searching for the truth in 2017.

“It is a tribute to the LGBTQ+ community,” Javier Ambrossi told AFP.

The film, which briefly features actress Penelope Cruz as a cabaret singer, received prolonged applause when it was screened at the festival on Tuesday.

Unlike film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin and Venice, the winning films in Toronto are not selected by a jury. Instead, audiences vote for their favorite films.

“La Bola Negra” will represent Spain at the 2027 Oscars, where it will compete in the Best International Feature Film category.

Directors Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, best known in Spain for their television productions, drew inspiration for the film from an unfinished play by poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca, who was executed by firing squad in 1936.

Peter Farrelly’s “I Play Rocky,” which tells the difficult journey of actor Sylvester Stallone toward making the first “Rocky” film, finished second.

Third place went to “Being Heumann,” written and directed by Siân Heder, who won an Oscar for “CODA.”

Simon Stone’s “Elsinore,” starring Andrew Scott, won the International People’s Choice Award.

“Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been,” directed by Barry Avrich, was named best documentary. The film chronicles the eventful career of singer Darlene Love, who was long underappreciated.

The 51st edition of the Toronto International Film Festival took place from September 10-20. A total of 294 films from 72 countries were screened during the festival.

Photo: Instagram/penelopecruzoficial