Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi brought Spain's Oscar contender, 'La bola negra,' to New York, the city that helped inspire their creative journey.
For Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, better known as Los Javis, New York City is more than another stop on their international film journey. It is a place filled with memories, inspiration, and the beginnings of a creative partnership that would eventually transform their careers.
© Miikka SkaffariNow, years after spending time in the Big Apple as aspiring performers, the Spanish filmmakers have returned with a major milestone. The New York premiere of La bola negra, Spain's official submission for the 2027 Academy Awards.
The directing duo attended the film's presentation at NewFest on Thursday, October 15, accompanied by members of the cast, including Hollywood icon Glenn Close and comedian and actor Julio Torres.
© Juan Naharro GimenezThe special occasion came just ahead of the movie's October 16 theatrical release in the United States, marking another exciting chapter for the filmmakers.
But beyond the red carpet and growing Oscar buzz, the visit also brought back memories of a time when their Hollywood dreams were still taking shape.
The New York experience that changed everything:
Speaking exclusively with ¡HOLA! during the New York premiere, Calvo reflected on his personal connection to the city and revealed how his early experiences there helped shape the creative vision he would later share with Ambrossi.
© Manoli Figetakis"When I was 20 or 21, I lived here for three months. Then he came, just as I was leaving," Calvo recalled, referring to Ambrossi. Their time in New York was far removed from the glamorous premieres and international recognition they enjoy today.
They were young performers studying acting, taking whatever jobs they could find and discovering the city's vibrant theater scene. According to Calvo, those formative months, particularly their exposure to Off-Broadway productions, planted the seeds for what would become one of their most successful projects.
© Cindy OrdThe inspiration eventually followed them back to Madrid, where they decided to create something of their own. That project became La llamada, the musical that helped establish Los Javis as two of Spain's most exciting creative voices.
The production would eventually find its own way to New York in 2024, making their latest return to the city even more meaningful.
From Off-Broadway inspiration to Spain's Oscar hopes:
Their journey has since taken them from intimate theater productions to internationally recognized film and television projects. With La bola negra, the filmmakers are now representing Spanish cinema on one of the industry's biggest stages.
© Vivien KillileaThe film, inspired by an unfinished work by celebrated Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca, has been selected as Spain's official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 2027 Oscars.
Although an Academy Award nomination is not yet guaranteed, the recognition is already a source of enormous pride for the directing duo.
© Getty"We don't talk about that, but I feel an immense sense of Spanish pride," Ambrossi told ¡HOLA! when asked about the possibility of taking home an Oscar.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Spanish Film Academy for choosing their work to represent the country during what he described as a particularly strong year for Spanish cinema.
For the filmmakers, the opportunity to share their story with American audiences, alongside an international cast that includes Glenn Close and Julio Torres, represents another significant step in a career that began with much smaller ambitions.
A deeply personal story that brings out different emotions:
While La bola negra has attracted attention for its Oscar prospects, its directors say the movie's emotional impact is what matters most.
© NetflixCalvo explained that their creative process has always been driven by personal feelings rather than an ambition to deliver a grand statement.
He believes filmmakers should begin with the experiences and emotions that move them, rather than approaching a project with the intention of changing the world.
© WireImageInterestingly, the finished movie brings out very different reactions in its two directors. "I think it's a film about how important it is to have the desire to embrace life. About the privilege of being alive," Ambrossi explained.'
For Calvo, however, revisiting the story is a more bittersweet experience. "Every time I watch the film, it makes me very sad," he admitted, explaining that it reminds him of unfinished lives, unrealized love stories and experiences that never had the chance to unfold.
© Stephane Cardinale - CorbisThose contrasting emotions reflect the themes at the heart of their latest project, which explores life, longing and the possibilities that can be lost along the way.
And perhaps that is what makes their return to New York particularly poignant. Two young artists who once wandered its streets searching for inspiration have come back with a film representing their country on the international stage.
