Penélope Cruz made another striking fashion statement at the San Sebastián Film Festival, stepping onto the red carpet for the premiere of her highly anticipated film “La Bola Negra.” The actress attended alongside directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, with the movie screening in the festival’s Perlak section.
After embracing a fitted, corseted look the previous evening, Cruz completely changed direction. This time, she appeared in a dramatic floor-length black gown with an architectural silhouette and an eye-catching feather detail across the chest.
The gown came from Chanel’s Cruise 2026/27 collection, the first Cruise collection created by Matthieu Blazy since becoming the fashion house’s creative director. On the runway, the design was presented with an elaborate bow headpiece and a pleated veil-like addition, but Cruz skipped both accessories and allowed the voluminous dress to command attention on its own.
A fitted bodice created structure through the upper half of the gown, while broad panels, folds and layers expanded dramatically from the waist. The result was a sculptural silhouette that looked noticeably different from Cruz’s outfit just one night earlier.
For that previous appearance, the actress wore a black Miss Sohee minidress featuring embroidery, appliqués, a strapless corset-style bodice and a short skirt. She chose the look for “The Invite,” directed by Olivia Wilde, another project generating awards-season attention. Cruz is already being discussed as a possible supporting-actress contender for both films.
“La Bola Negra,” directed by Calvo and Ambrossi, takes inspiration from an unfinished work by Spanish poet Federico García Lorca. Its story connects the lives of three men across different periods — 1932, 1937 and 2017. The cast also includes Glenn Close, Guitarricadelafuente, Carlos González, Lola Dueñas and Miguel Bernardeau.
Cruz has a long history with the San Sebastián Film Festival and received its prestigious Donostia Award in 2019. This year, however, it wasn’t only her latest movie attracting attention — her dramatic transformation from corseted mini to sweeping couture ensured all eyes were once again on her.
