In a historic win, “La Bola Negra,” directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, has secured the People’s Choice Award at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This marks a significant achievement as it is the first non-English-language film to receive this honor since “Where Do We Go Now?” in 2011. The announcement was made during an awards ceremony held on Sunday, where “I Play Rocky” was named the runner-up, followed by “Being Heumann.”
The film, which spans decades of Spanish drama, had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where Calvo and Ambrossi were awarded the Best Director Award. Following its success at Cannes, “La Bola Negra” was picked up by Netflix, which plans a major theatrical release and awards campaign for the film.
TIFF People’s Choice Award
Unlike many major film festivals that rely on juries to determine their top awards, TIFF allows the public to vote for their favorite films during public screenings. This year, the film that garnered the highest percentage of votes from viewers took home the prestigious People’s Choice Award.
In addition to “La Bola Negra,” the British drama “Elsinore” won the People’s Choice Award for international films, while “Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been” was recognized in the documentary category. The festival’s Midnight Madness section awarded “Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney” as its winner.
Platform Prize and Other Recognitions
Theja Rio’s “Angh,” set in the Nagaland region of India, won the jury prize in TIFF’s Platform section, which included 12 films from around the globe. This year, the winner of this prize will automatically qualify for the Oscars’ Best International Feature Film category, joining winners from other prestigious festivals like Sundance and Cannes.
Other notable awards included Serville Poblete’s “Sunburn” as the best Canadian film and Cody Lightning’s “Smudge the Blades” winning the Best Canadian Discovery prize for first or second films by Canadian directors. The FIPRESCI Award for best first film went to David Turpin’s “Ancestors,” while the NETPAC Award was awarded to Hosam Abu Dan’s Palestinian film “Thirteen in Gaza.”
The TIFF People’s Choice Award has historically been a reliable predictor for the Oscars, with 16 of the last 18 winners going on to receive nominations for Best Picture. Notably, five of these winners have taken home the top Oscar, including “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Nomadland.”
As the festival concluded, the excitement surrounding “La Bola Negra” and its potential Oscar journey continues to build, with Netflix gearing up for a significant awards campaign. For more details on the festival and its winners, visit TheWrap.
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