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La bola negra, El ser querido and Los domingos, finalists to represent Spain at the Oscars
Spain🏛️ PoliticsCenter9/3/2026

La bola negra, El ser querido and Los domingos, finalists to represent Spain at the Oscars

The Spanish Academy of Cinema has announced three films competing to represent Spain at the 2027 Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category: 'La bola negra' by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, 'El ser querido' by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, and 'Los domingos' by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa. These films were selected by the academy, and members will vote to determine which one will compete for an Oscar nomination. The decision will be announced on September 16. This follows 'Sirat' by Oliver Laxe, which represented Spain in the 2026 Oscars and was nominated. 'La bola negra' received critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival and is expected to be promoted heavily by Netflix during awards season. The film features a cast including Penélope Cruz, Glenn Close, and Guitarricadelafuente, who makes his acting debut. Both directors expressed pride in their film’s selection and acknowledged Pedro Almodóvar’s 'Amarga Navidad,' which did not make the final cut but was praised.

Spain has announced three films competing for representation at the upcoming Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category: La bola negra, El ser querido, and Los domingos. These selections were made by Spain's Academy of Cinema, with the final choice set to be revealed on September 16. This decision excludes Pedro Almodóvar’s Amarga Navidad from contention despite its status as one of the country’s prominent film releases this year. The three selected films have been highlighted for their critical acclaim and potential international appeal. La bola negra, directed by Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, has gained significant attention after its successful run at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Direction award. The film, which explores interconnected lives through the lens of sexuality, desire, pain, and legacy, was acquired by Netflix for distribution in the United States. Its release in Spanish cinemas is scheduled for late September, following an extended theatrical run in the U.S. ahead of its streaming debut. El ser querido, directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, features two standout performances by Javier Bardem and Victoria Luengo, portraying a father and daughter whose relationship is defined by guilt and memory. The film received widespread praise during its Cannes screening and is considered a strong contender for recognition at the Oscars. Los domingos, directed by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, is the winner of five Goya Awards and the Concha de Oro at the San Sebastián Film Festival. It concludes the trio of Spanish entries aiming for the Oscar nomination. Ruiz de Azúa’s film has been recognized for its emotional depth and narrative strength, marking a significant achievement in her career. The selection process sees Spain continuing its tradition of sending multiple films to compete internationally, following the success of Sirat by Oliver Laxe, which earned a nomination in the previous year’s awards. Unlike Sirat, however, none of the current three films have secured a nomination yet, though they each carry substantial weight in terms of critical reception and industry backing. The exclusion of Amarga Navidad from the Oscar race has sparked some discussion among critics and fans alike. Despite being a highly anticipated project from one of Spain’s most celebrated directors, the film did not make the cut for the initial selection. Almodóvar himself expressed pride in his work, acknowledging that while he will miss the opportunity to compete at the Oscars, the film stands as a significant artistic endeavor. The three remaining films will now undergo further evaluation by members of Spain’s Academy of Cinema, who will cast their votes until September 15. The final decision will be announced on September 16, determining which film will represent Spain in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 3 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

3 reports

elDiario.es logoelDiario.esIndependentCenterFactual 88Objective 829/3/2026
La bola negra, El ser querido and Los domingos, finalists to represent Spain at the Oscars

The Spanish Academy of Cinema has announced three films competing to represent Spain at the 2027 Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category: 'La bola negra' by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, 'El ser querido' by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, and 'Los domingos' by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa. These films were selected by the academy, and members will vote to determine which one will compete for an Oscar nomination. The decision will be announced on September 16. This follows 'Sirat' by Oliver Laxe, which represented Spain in the 2026 Oscars and was nominated. 'La bola negra' received critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival and is expected to be promoted heavily by Netflix during awards season. The film features a cast including Penélope Cruz, Glenn Close, and Guitarricadelafuente, who makes his acting debut. Both directors expressed pride in their film’s selection and acknowledged Pedro Almodóvar’s 'Amarga Navidad,' which did not make the final cut but was praised.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on the selection process for Spain's Oscar entry, focusing on cinematic achievements and industry recognition. It provides factual information about the films, their creators, and their potential for international success. There is no evident ideological framing, biased language,

Why factuality (88): The article confirms the three films selected for the Oscars and provides additional context about 'La bola negra', including its connection to Netflix and its performance at Cannes. This aligns with the cross-source consensus. It also mentions the previous year's selection, adding relevant backgrou

Why objectivity (82): While the article presents the information objectively, it includes some promotional elements about 'La bola negra', such as its campaign and song nomination, which might suggest a slight promotional angle.

El Mundo logoEl MundoIndependent🔒CenterFactual 85Objective 809/3/2026
La bola negra, El ser querido and Los domingos will compete to represent Spain at the Oscars and Almodóvar is left out

The Spanish Academy of Cinema has selected three films, 'La bola negra', 'El ser querido', and 'Los domingos', to represent Spain in the Best International Feature Film category at the upcoming Oscars. This decision marks a shift from previous selections, as it excludes Pedro Almodóvar's film 'Amarga Navidad', which was part of the Cannes lineup. The chosen films include 'Los Javis', directed by Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, who previously won the Best Direction award at Cannes, and 'El ser querido' by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, praised for its performances by Javier Bardem and Victoria Luengo. The selection highlights a focus on current successes rather than past Cannes participants, with 'La bola negra' positioned as a strong contender due to its acquisition by Netflix for U.S. distribution.

Bias read (Center): The article discusses the selection of Spanish films for international recognition and does not involve political figures, policies, or contentious social issues. It focuses on cinematic achievements and industry decisions, making it non-political in nature.

Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports that 'La bola negra', 'El ser querido', and 'Los domingos' have been selected as Spain's candidates for the Oscars. It mentions Almodóvar's film 'Amarga Navidad' being excluded, which aligns with the cross-source consensus. The information about the Academy's selection

Why objectivity (80): The tone remains neutral, presenting the information without strong emotional language. However, there is a slight emphasis on the significance of 'La bola negra' and its potential success, which may lean slightly towards positive sentiment.

El País logoEl PaísIndependent🔒CenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 859/3/2026
La bola negra, Los domingos and El ser querido, the three preselected for the Oscar awards for Spain to the statuette to best international film

Three Spanish films, 'La bola negra' by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, 'El ser querido' by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, and 'Los domingos' by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, have been preselected by Spain's Academy of Cinema for consideration in the race for the Oscar award for Best International Feature Film. These selections were made after an initial screening process, and Spanish academics will continue voting until September 15. The final choice will be announced on September 16.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about the preselection of Spanish films for the Oscars without any apparent ideological framing. It focuses on the procedural aspects of the selection process and does not take a stance on the merits of the films or their potential impact on national identity

Why factuality: no official source document/info detected

Why objectivity (85): The article maintains a neutral tone throughout, presenting facts without bias. It avoids emotional language and focuses solely on reporting the selection process and outcomes.

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