Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo won the Best Director award for their film "La Bola Negra" at the Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2026 [1, 2].
The victory marks a historic moment for Spanish cinema, as it is the first time a Spanish director has won the prize since Pedro Almodóvar in 1999 [3].
Known collectively as Los Javis, the duo shared the honor ex aequo with Pawel Pawlikowski for the film "Fatherland" [1, 2]. The award was presented during the 79th edition of the festival in Cannes, France [1, 4].
"La Bola Negra" is a drama that explores the Spanish Civil War. The narrative focuses on the period through the perspective of the poet Federico García Lorca [2, 5]. The jury said the pair provided outstanding direction in bringing this historical period to the screen [5].
The win ends a long drought for Spanish filmmakers in the Best Director category. Almodóvar had previously set the benchmark with his 1999 win for "Todo sobre mi madre" [3]. This shared prize highlights a rare instance of the festival splitting its top directing honor between two distinct productions [2].
Ambrossi and Calvo have emerged as significant figures in contemporary Spanish film, moving from comedic roots to the high-drama historical storytelling seen in this production. Their work at the 79th festival cements their position on the international stage [1, 4].
“The victory marks a historic moment for Spanish cinema.”
This award signals a shift in the international recognition of modern Spanish cinema, moving beyond the established legacy of Pedro Almodóvar. By awarding a film centered on the Spanish Civil War and Federico García Lorca, the Cannes jury acknowledges a renewed cinematic interest in Spain's complex political history and cultural identity.
