JA Bayona, aged 48 and based in Barcelona, makes a quiet entrance into Barcelona’s Eixample, a district known for its cafés where visitors often linger for brunch. Today the space feels unusually sparse and almost ghostly as he steps inside. He offers a brief greeting, then lets the photographer take the lead, a courteous nod to protocol. At the moment, the Spanish director is focused on the moment itself, glancing only long enough at one photo before muttering that he didn’t have time to fix his hair. When they settle to begin the interview, the surrounding attention centers on a book spread across the table, filled with stills from his most recent project. These few minutes find him completely absorbed, while the rest of the time unfolds in a quiet, almost introspective bubble that has lasted months. Snow Community. Coming to Netflix this Thursday.
It is just past ten in the morning when Bayona breaks the silence with a request that concerns no one else but his twin brother. “A coffee is needed,” Carlos pipes up loudly. Bayona smiles faintly, acknowledging the message. He has returned to the café after a restless night, not feeling fully well for several days, yet he forges ahead with promotion in Spain and on the international stage. “The worst time for sleep is when I’m not filming because work and pleasure blur together. I slept late last night because I kept watching movies at home.” The film he refers to is Bradley Cooper’s Maestro, a title that’s also making waves in Oscar pools.
Snow Society has earned pre-selection in four categories — best international film, best original score, best visual effects, and best makeup and hair — and Bayona has been at the forefront of keeping the momentum alive. “He’s the only person I know who throws himself into promotion with the same intensity he brings to filming,” notes one member of his team. This matters because Bayona remains deeply invested in the story of the 1972 Andes crash survivors. Before filming, he even slept in a tent where the real plane wreck occurred.
“I have a terrible time on shoots, and they pass by in a flash,” he admits. “That’s really my job; that’s where I flow. It’s scary most days on set because things don’t always go as planned, but that’s exactly what I like about it. The greatest reward comes when the search finally bears fruit.” People involved in the film describe the project as one under intense pressure to meet deadlines, with Bayona characterized as a demanding director who has a crystal-clear vision of what he wants.
Knowing he is now in the running for a Golden Globe, the director savors every positive reaction to the film, which Netflix will release on January 4. “I only buy good things,” he insists, scrolling through his phone to share the film’s warm reception at cinemas. The enthusiasm grows, and the scene expands as he explains that many viewers can relate to the cruelty the survivors faced. “We’ve all felt like life was hurting us at some point. They stood as examples of resilience and cooperation.”
Bayona seeks to touch as many lives as possible with his work, yet he maintains that this ambition does not compromise honesty in his cinema. “The easy route is to present a hero’s saga, but my aim is originality. I believe the audience is capable of grasping what I want to convey. I often see films where the creator’s intent is clear, yet the audience misses it. I advocate accessible cinema.”
He has spoken about growing up in a family where emotions were rarely discussed and where practical needs often took priority. In cinema, he has found a space to express what was once kept quiet. He says this latest project has helped him become more candid with his own feelings, and he agrees to answer an unconventional questionnaire that blends a Proust-inspired set of questions with Capote’s 1972 self-interview.
“Excellent, but I’m more Capote Bayona in spirit,” he quips.
The interview asks: The main feature of your character is…
I am a Taurus. I would call it perseverance, though I don’t want to sound arrogant. Stubbornness? Grit, yes. Perseverance can feel like a bouquet of praise, but grit is the thing that keeps you moving when the path gets rough.
The mood you encounter most often is…
Restless.
Your biggest fear is…
Death.
A trait you can’t stand in yourself…
What don’t I like about myself? He looks toward his brother as if asking for permission. I don’t like my own impatience.
Your idea of perfect happiness…
Watching a movie I love in a cinema. It’s that moment when time dissolves and you’re completely immersed. It’s the same feeling I get while shooting a film; a day on set can feel like ten minutes, such is the flow.
An overrated virtue…
Beauty. When someone hits sixty and is praised for looks, that praise often fades quickly. Beauty is a gift, not a virtue, and it shouldn’t be treated as the measure of a person.
Something you value highly in others…
Honesty. Open dialogue is essential in cinema. Truth matters because storytelling is a kind of survival. As Guillermo del Toro has said, we are living in the last few minutes of life, and truth matters above all.
If you had to live in one place and never leave, where would it be? Wow—tough question. A cinema where films play around the clock would be irresistible, though a never-ending screening could drive you mad. Still, a continuous movie marathon doesn’t sound terrible.
Do you prefer animals to people? No. It bothers me that animals are sometimes humanized while people are dehumanized. Social networks overemphasize dogs acting like humans, yet real-world suffering persists with little attention.
Do you consider yourself cruel? No. On a scale of one to ten, I’d give myself a three. I’m not perfect, and often you end up watching TV from home and becoming desensitized. That desensitization is a kind of cruelty too.
Have you ever wanted to kill someone? No. I might briefly imagine a wish for someone’s death, then it passes. Still, there are bad people in the world, and sometimes the thought surfaces, a cruel impulse that momentarily lingers.
What qualities do you value in friends? Entertainment, laughter, and the ability to listen. The capacity to learn is crucial too. I was with David Trueba yesterday and asked for his number because I want to spend more time with him; learning is addictive. This family is incredible. Fernando, we are already very close friends.
Do you consider yourself sincere? Increasingly so. This film has pushed me to be more open with others, to show vulnerability. A psychologist friend reminded me that vulnerability can be a strength, and cinema is a survival tool where truth is paramount. Lies lead nowhere.
If something still shocks you, what would that be? Evil. It’s obvious, yet people who deliberately act badly provoke a strong reaction in me.