FILMS from AFAR

Fresh off an Audience Award at San Sebastián (SSIFF), the top People’s Choice prize in Toronto and a Best Director award at Cannes for , known in Spain as ‘Los Javis,’ La Bola Negra opens in US theaters on Oct. 16 and will stream on Netflix beginning Dec. 2 (marking the streamer’s longest-ever theatrical release). In Spain, the film has been a true phenomenon, reportedly outrunning The Odyssey in opening weekend pre-sales and already in the top 10 of all-time local grossers.

This case study was conducted as part of a Fulbright research grant in 2026-27 supported by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Central Washington University. At the time of this writing, La Bola Negra, from co-directors Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, is generating historical Oscar buzz (for a Spanish film). Already Spain’s International Film nominee, La Bola Negra is landing on many commentators’ watch lists for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Score, Song and Su

I spoke with Iván Díaz, head of International at Barcelona-based Filmax, about the remake market, the sale of rights on Cesc Gay’s Sentimental (The People Upstairs)—now on its way to becoming one of Europe’s most-resold IPs—and his thoughts on Olivia Wilde’s US version, The Invite. This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity. There have been 5 remakes already and 4 more in the works, is that right? Yes… Sentimental, from the beginning was a movie that we all felt very pro

This case study was conducted as part of a Fulbright research grant in 2026-27 supported by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Central Washington University. Olivia Wilde’s The Invite, which launched an all-night bidding war at Sundance and made its European premiere in August to a sold-out outdoor audience of thousands at Locarno, premieres Oct. 16 in Spain. That wouldn’t normally be news, but The Invite is a remake of a Spanish film, Sentimental (The People Upstairs)

Mike Leigh’s ‘Tender Loving Care’ Sweeps San Sebastian Awards as ‘La Bola Negra,’ ‘NAZA’ Earn Audience Nods Amanda Kernell's 'Brace Your Heart' won the Swedish-Sami filmmaker the Silver Shell for best director as the Spanish film fest wrapped up its 74th edition, the last for outgoing director Jose Luis Rebordinos. This article originally ran in The Hollywood Reporter. Mike Leigh’s dramatic comedy Tender Loving Care took home three top awards at Saturday night’s closing cerem

Read these reviews at AWFJ: Nicole Garcia's Milo (7h40 ce matin-la) A somber tale about motherhood, regrets, and class divisions in France, actress-director Nicole Garcia’s newest film, Milo offers a star vehicle for lead Marion Cotillard, who delivers a nuanced and emotional performance. Yesim Ustaoglu’s What Remains (Artakalan) What Remains features two compelling central performances and offers a poetic rumination about how to balance the creative process with the demands