Behind the growing Oscar buzz surrounding La Bola Negra, the queer drama from Spanish filmmaking duo Los Javis, lies a personal turning point: Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi have ended their 13-year romantic relationship.

The film marks a potentially major international breakthrough for the pair, with early predictions suggesting it could enter the Best Picture race at the Oscars. Calvo, 35, and Ambrossi, 42, are already familiar faces to fans of Drag Race España and Drag Race España: All Stars, having served as head judges on both shows since their first seasons.

Despite their professional success, the filmmakers’ personal lives took a different turn during production. The couple, who had worked together as both romantic and creative partners for 13 years, announced their separation in November 2025. Reports suggest the split happened while La Bola Negra was being filmed.

Their relationship may have changed, but their creative partnership appears to remain intact. The two are reportedly continuing to work together as writers, directors and producers, with their separation said to have been amicable.

The Story Behind Spanish Filmmaking Duo Los Javis

Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, better known as Los Javis, have built a name for themselves in Spain as writers, producers, directors and actors.

Their creative partnership gained momentum with La llamada, a stage production they co-wrote and directed before adapting it into a film in 2017. The movie’s premiere became a memorable moment in LGBTQ+ Spanish culture when Ambrossi got down on one knee and proposed to Calvo. Although the couple never married, they told the media that their busy schedules repeatedly forced them to postpone the wedding.

Their connection to La llamada also inspired matching tattoos. Both had the phrase “Lo hacemos y ya vemos” — meaning “we’ll do it and we’ll see” — inked on their forearms.

Los Javis later expanded their work into television, creating acclaimed projects including Veneno, Vestidas de Azul and La Mesías.

Their film La Bola Negra marked another major milestone, earning the duo the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director.

Why Los Javis Decided to End Their Romantic Relationship

Los Javis’ separation took place while they were making La Bola Negra, a film that prompted both filmmakers to reflect on love, desire and the relationship they shared.

Speaking to IndieWire, Calvo explained that the split was not a painful confrontation, but part of a process of personal growth.

“It wasn’t upsetting,” Calvo said about their breakup to IndieWire. “Every movie for us is cathartic in a way. We learn something from the things we write and it has to change us.

“And when we started to write this movie, we started to face passion and love and honouring the love stories that couldn’t happen in the past.

“We knew our relationship was going to either go one way or another after we cross this moving fire. Somehow in the middle of the shooting: ‘We should be family and not have a romantic relationship.’”

Ambrossi stressed that their decision did not stem from arguments. Instead, exploring the experiences of people who had been denied the freedom to love forced them to reconsider their own relationship.

He explained: “When you’re writing about desire, and when you’re writing about impossible love, and when you face the fact that not so long ago, some people were not able to love, especially gay men and LGBTQ people. Then you force yourself to ask, ‘Am I honouring the past with my present?’ And the truth is we weren’t.”

For Calvo, accepting that their romance had run its course also meant embracing the possibilities ahead. He added: “It’s about what happens when you deny yourself. You miss life. We’re writing all these lines: ‘Evolve. Don’t lie to yourself. Just be honest.’ We were mature: ‘This is over.’ But something new starts, way more beautiful, which is being partners. We’re writing our next movie, half in English, half in Spanish.”

What Is the Story Behind La Bola Negra?

La Bola Negra is an ambitious queer historical drama that spans three different periods, bringing together stories of identity, forbidden desire and the struggle for LGBTQ+ freedom.

Drawing inspiration from Federico García Lorca’s unfinished work and Alberto Conejero’s play La Piedra Oscura, Los Javis construct a three-part narrative, with each storyline exploring a different experience of queer life against the backdrop of Spain’s history.

The first follows Carlos (Milo Quifes) in 1932. Eager to gain entry to an exclusive social club, he faces rejection after rumours about his sexuality lead members to vote against him.

The story then moves to 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, where Sebastián (Guitarricadelafuente) witnesses an attack on his village and is forced to join the Nationalist forces. He is assigned to guard prisoner of war Rafael Rodríguez Rapún (Miguel Bernardeau), bringing him into a complicated situation amid the conflict.

The final storyline takes place in 2017 and centres on Alberto (Carlos González), a queer historian attempting to make sense of his estranged family’s past. Through these three interconnected portraits, the film explores how queer identities and desires have been shaped by different eras of Spanish history.

Which Actors Appear in La Bola Negra?

Milo Quifes, Guitarricadelafuente and Carlos González lead La Bola Negra, each portraying one of the film’s three central characters. The cast also features several internationally recognised stars who play key roles across its different timelines.

Penélope Cruz appears as Nené Romero in the 1937 storyline. A much-loved entertainer who performs for the troops, Nené brings warmth and charisma to the narrative. She also introduces Sebastián to Edmond de Bries, an important figure in queer history.

Glenn Close joins the 2017 storyline as Isabelle Durand, a historian and scholar who helps Alberto piece together his family’s past. Her character plays a significant role in his search to understand his roots.

The supporting ensemble includes Lola Dueñas, Julio Torres and Yenesi, alongside other cast members.

La Bola Negra arrives in UK cinemas on 6 November, with a Netflix release planned to follow.

Source: Various