Audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival have spoken, and they chose a Spanish-language film. La Bola Negra, a war drama from directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, won the TIFF 2026 People’s Choice Award on September 20.
The prize is voted on by festival audiences and is one of the most reliable early signals in the Oscar race.
The People’s Choice results
- Winner: La Bola Negra, Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi
- First runner-up: I Play Rocky, Peter Farrelly
- Second runner-up: Being Heumann, Sian Heder
La Bola Negra premiered at Cannes in May, where Calvo and Ambrossi won Best Director. Netflix has acquired the film, which gives it a major awards campaign behind it.
A strong Oscar predictor
Since 2008, 16 of the 18 People’s Choice winners have gone on to earn Best Picture nominations. Five won the top prize:
- Slumdog Millionaire
- The King’s Speech
- 12 Years a Slave
- Green Book
- Nomadland
The only winner in the past decade not to land a Best Picture nomination was The Life of Chuck. Runners-up have a good record too, which gives I Play Rocky and Being Heumann a boost.
Other TIFF 2026 winners
- International People’s Choice: Elsinore, Simon Stone
- Documentary People’s Choice: Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been, Barry Avrich
- Midnight Madness People’s Choice: Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney, Matthew Rankin
- Platform Prize: Angh, Theja Rio
- Best Canadian Feature: Sunburn, Serville Poblete
- FIPRESCI Award: Ancestors, David Turpin
Who are Calvo and Ambrossi?
The Spanish duo, known together as “Los Javis”, built their reputation with the series Veneno and Paquita Salas. La Bola Negra is their most ambitious film to date and marks their arrival as international awards contenders.
What happens next
A Spanish-language film can compete for both Best Picture and Best International Feature. Netflix will push the film through the guild and critics’ awards season that begins in December.
For more festival and red-carpet coverage, visit our Celebrity section.