‘La Bola Negra’ to Receive Gotham Vanguard Tribute at Gotham Film Awards (EXCLUSIVE)

“La Bola Negra,” the film from directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, popularly known as Los Javis, will receive The Gotham Vanguard Tribute at this year’s Gotham Film Awards on Nov. 30.

The ceremony, taking place at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, will pay tribute to the filmmakers as well as the Netflix movie’s cast — including Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau, Carlos González, Milo Quifes, Lola Dueñas, Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close — for their inspired reincarnation of the spirit of Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca.

“Inspiring and imaginative, ‘La Bola Negra’ reminds us why Federico García Lorca remains one of the twentieth century’s essential voices,” said Jeffrey Sharp, executive director of The Gotham Film & Media Institute. “Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, together with an extraordinary cast, bring Lorca’s exploration of desire and belonging to new audiences in a film of sweeping ambition and emotional depth. Their collaboration is exactly the kind of daring filmmaking The Gotham Vanguard Tribute was created to celebrate, and we’re thrilled to honor their incredible work this November.”

Taking its name from an unfinished play by Lorca and drawing on his writings and legacy, “La Bola Negra” spans three generations and pivotal moments in Spanish history. In 1932, Carlos (Quifes) longs to belong in a fractured Spain. In 1937, Sebastián (Guitarricadelafuente) finds connection across enemy lines. And in 2017, Alberto (González) uncovers a long-buried family secret that gives voice to truths the past tried to erase. Calvo and Ambrossi co-wrote “La Bola Negra” with Alberto Conejero, whose play “La piedra oscura” was among the works that informed the film.

“La Bola Negra” earned Calvo and Ambrossi the best director prize at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, then went on to win the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. The TIFF win made it the first Netflix title to receive the festival’s top prize and the first international film to do so in 15 years. “La Bola Negra” is also Spain’s official submission for the Academy Award for International Feature Film. The film opens in New York City and Los Angeles on Oct. 16 before expanding to additional theaters across the United States and Canada. Select theaters will present it in 35mm. “La Bola Negra” will debut on Netflix in the United States and Canada on Dec. 2.

It was previously announced that LAIKA will receive the Gotham Anniversary Tribute at this year’s gala and that Danny Boyle will receive the Gotham Director Tribute for “Ink.”