Updated

Updated · Deadline · May 23

Deadline Critics Back La Bola Negra for Cannes Palme d'Or as 6 Films Return for Ceremony

Updated

Updated · Deadline · May 23

Deadline Critics Back La Bola Negra for Cannes Palme d'Or as 6 Films Return for Ceremony

Q: Why did the Cannes jury's top prize ignore the audience favorite that sparked a multi-studio bidding war?

Because Cannes juries do not award the Palme d’Or based on audience enthusiasm, sales heat or critical consensus, and this year’s jury appears to have judged Cristian Mungiu’s *Fjord* as the stronger overall winner. That does not mean Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi’s *La Bola Negra*—also known as *The Black Ball*—was dismissed. It was one of the festival’s breakout titles, drew one of the loudest ovations, and triggered a bidding war involving A24, Mubi and Netflix. But the jury, led by Park Chan-wook, ultimately gave it a shared Best Director prize rather than the top award. The clearest public explanation is that the jury’s deliberations were private and Cannes offered little detailed reasoning afterward. What was said suggests the panel deeply admired *The Black Ball*’s filmmaking and emotional tenderness, but not enough to elevate it above *Fjord* for the Palme. Park and juror Chloé Zhao specifically praised the directors’ work, indicating the film was recognized in a major way. The result also fits a long Cannes pattern: juries often diverge from critics, audiences and the market. Before the ceremony, many pundits expected *La Bola Negra* to win, yet *Fjord* had strong festival credentials of its own, including the FIPRESCI Award, the Ecumenical Jury Award and other side honors. In other words, the jury did not ignore the audience favorite; it simply ranked Mungiu’s film higher for the festival’s top artistic prize.

3 articles · Updated · Deadline · May 23

Six films — including Minotaur, Fjord, Fatherland and La Bola Negra — are rumored to have been called back for Cannes’ closing ceremony, sharpening expectations ahead of Saturday’s awards.
Deadline’s two critics both pick La Bola Negra for the Palme d’Or, while splitting on other major prizes: Pete Hammond favors Fjord for Grand Prize, Damon Wise backs Minotaur.
Fatherland appears in both critics’ forecasts for the Jury Prize, reflecting strong support for Pawel Pawlikowski’s 82-minute black-and-white drama even as juries often diverge from critical consensus.
Acting races look less settled, with Hammond tipping Javier Bardem and Léa Seydoux, while Wise highlights Ayase Haruka and Coward’s Emmanuel Maccia.
Park Chan-wook’s jury is seen as a wild card, leaving room for late-surging contenders such as Coward, The Dreamed Adventure and South Korea’s Hope.