La Bola Negra and Elsinore Win Top Prizes at the 2026 Hamptons International Film Festival
The momentum is real. La Bola Negra and Elsinore, two of the most talked-about films coming out of the fall festival circuit, both took top prizes at the 34th Hamptons International Film Festival, and both are already on the Cup of Soul Awards Tracker.
La Bola Negra takes the jury prize
Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi's La Bola Negra won Best Narrative Feature from the competition jury. The prize package includes $2,500 in cash and a camera and lens package valued at $60,000 from TCS, plus post-production and production services.
It's the latest win for a film that already took the People's Choice Award at TIFF in September. Cup of Soul saw La Bola Negra on the festival circuit, and it sits in the Established Conversation tier of our Best Picture and Best Director tracking, with Penélope Cruz, Guitarricadelafuente and Glenn Close all in the supporting races.
Elsinore wins over audiences again
Simon Stone's Elsinore took the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature. That follows its International People's Choice Award at TIFF, which makes it two audience prizes in two festivals. Olivia Colman is in our Best Supporting Actress tracking for the film.
The rest of the winners
Audience Awards
Best Documentary Feature: Burgundy, dir. Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw
Best Short Film: The Grandfather Puzzle, dir. Ora DeKornfeld
Competition Awards
Best Documentary Feature: If Pigeons Turned to Gold, dir. Pepa Lubojacki
Special Mention, Narrative Feature: The Guest, dir. Mads Mengel
Best Narrative Short: "Vaterland" or A Bule Named Yanto, dir. Berthold Wahjudi (qualifies for Oscar consideration)
Best Documentary Short: Water Cooler, dir. Emma V.F. (qualifies for Oscar consideration)
Other Awards
NYWIFT Excellence in Narrative Filmmaking: Ben'Imana, dir. Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo
NYWIFT Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking and Artemis Rising Social Impact Award: The Drug in Our Pocket, dir. Anne Sundberg
Victor Rabinowitz & Joanne Grant Award for Social Justice: Naza, dir. Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor
Sherzum Award: What Will I Become?, dir. Lexie Bean and Logan Rozos
HIFF Junior Jury Award: Mouse, dir. Kelly O'Sullivan and Alex Thompson
Rwandan filmmaker Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo's Ben'Imana is one to keep an eye on as international voices continue to break through on the circuit.
What it means for the race
Festival prizes don't vote for the Oscars, but they keep a film in the conversation, and both of these films keep winning. Follow every move on the Cup of Soul Awards Tracker.
