What Filmax International does

Filmax International is a Spanish audiovisual company headquartered in Barcelona (C/ Metalurgia 38), operating under the legal entity Castelao Pictures S.L., with a secondary office in Santiago de Compostela (Filmax Galicia). The FILMAX brand traces its origins to the mid-20th century and was acquired by Julio Fernández in 1987, who rebuilt it as an independent, vertically integrated film and television studio; Carlos Fernández has led the company as president and CEO since 2010. Filmax operates across the full content value chain: film production (Producción), theatrical distribution (Distribución), television production (Filmax TV), cinema exhibition (Cines Filmax), and international sales, spanning live-action and animation. It employs an estimated 101–250 people.

The company's core assets are its content creation capabilities and a catalog of more than 305 films, including over 100 in-house-produced feature films across drama, thriller, comedy, horror, documentary, and animation. Its animation division is a notable differentiator, with six Goya Awards for Best Animated Film across titles such as Copito de Nieve, Nocturna, El Cid: la leyenda, the Pérez mouse franchise, La gallina Turuleca, and the upcoming Superthings: La Película. On the distribution side, Filmax has handled acclaimed international titles including Slumdog Millionaire (8 Oscars) and Million Dollar Baby (4 Oscars), and its co-produced Tad the Lost Explorer franchise grossed $118 million worldwide. In television it produced Polseres vermelles, the first Spanish series to win an International Emmy Kids Award.

Filmax operates a sales-led business model with multiple revenue streams: one-time licensing from film production, transaction-fee-based theatrical distribution (including through its own Cines Filmax chain) and box-office exhibition, licensing/royalties from television production and international distribution rights, and platform licensing to broadcasters and streamers. Its buyers are enterprise counterparties—streaming platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Movistar Plus+, Filmin, HBO), public broadcasters (RTVE, 3Cat, À Punt), and theatrical distributors (Paramount Pictures Spain)—alongside international content buyers at film markets. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Ownership remains concentrated within the Fernández family; no external institutional, PE, or VC backing is indicated.

Name

Filmax International

Legal name

Castelao Pictures S.L.

Website

https://filmax.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Filmax International is a Barcelona-based, vertically integrated Spanish film and television studio spanning production, theatrical distribution, TV, cinema exhibition, and international sales, serving broadcasters, streaming platforms, distributors, and cinema audiences in Spain and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Production and Distribution

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (512120), Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Theatrical Distribution (Domestic) (MPADAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Sales & Licensing (Territory Pre-Sales) (MPADAJAC), Cinema Chains & Multiplex Operators (MPADAKAA), International TV Program Distribution (Sales/Output Deals) (MPABAMAD)

Keywords

• Film production services
• Film distribution rights
• Television series production
• Animation film production
• International film sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Film Production: Producing feature films for theatrical release, including live-action dramas, comedies, thrillers, and animated features. Over 100 films produced including acclaimed titles like El maquinista, REC franchise, and The Way.
2. Film Distribution: Distributing films nationally in Spain and internationally. Titles include Slumdog Millionaire (8 Oscar winner), Million Dollar Baby, and Spanish films like Cerdita and Irati.
3. Television Production: Producing television series under the Filmax label including Polseres vermelles (first Spanish Emmy Kids winner), Cites, Sé quién eres, and recent productions like Todos Mienten, Los sin nombre, Feria, and Selftape.
4. Theater Operations (Cines Filmax): Operating the Cines Filmax theater chain for film exhibition.
5. International Sales: Selling international distribution rights to produced content, including acquiring rights like 'Moss' animated feature for international sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Filmax International is a vertically integrated Spanish audiovisual company that develops, produces, and distributes feature films and television series across live-action and animation genres. The company operates film production (Producción), theatrical distribution (Distribución), television series production, cinema exhibition (Cines Filmax), and international sales of distribution rights for its catalog of more than 305 titles and over 100 produced feature films.

Product overview

Filmax International is a Spanish audiovisual company with over 70 years of history, based in Barcelona, operating across the complete film production lifecycle from development through exhibition. The company operates through five main business areas: film production (Producción), theatrical distribution (Distribución), television production (TV), cinema theaters (Cines Filmax), and international sales. Its portfolio includes over 100 feature films spanning multiple genres (drama, thriller, animation, comedy, documentary, horror) and a catalog of more than 305 films. The animation division has produced award-winning titles including the Pérez mouse series, Copito de Nieve, Nocturna, La gallina Turuleca, and Superthings, with six Goya Awards for Best Animated Feature. Television production includes series distributed on major streaming platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Movistar Plus+) and the company holds international sales rights for its content catalog.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Filmax TV: Television production division producing series such as 'Polseres vermelles,' 'Cites,' 'Sé quién eres,' 'Benvinguts a la família,' 'Días de Navidad,' 'Todos Mienten,' 'Los sin nombre,' 'Feria,' 'Selftape,' and 'Citas Barcelona.'
• Cines Filmax

Quantifiable outcome

• Six Goya Awards for Best Animated Film
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Lightbox Animation StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for animated films including Una Casa en la Playa and creator of the Tad the Lost Explorer franchise which grossed $118 million worldwide. Their first film Tad won three Goya Awards.
• AT Production (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian co-production partner for films including Una Casa en la Playa, bringing over 25 years of experience with 10 feature films, 160 TV movies, 35 TV series, and 18 documentaries in their portfolio.
• MediacrestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company for Una Casa en la Playa with over 25 feature films produced including Klaus (Oscar nominated, Bafta winner) and Futbolín. Led by Gustavo Ferrada.
• Tandem FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Superthings: La película, the animated feature adaptation of the successful children's series.
• Turanga FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Superthings: La película and Bypass, producing the animated feature and drama content.
• MagicboxcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerIP holder and licensor for the Superthings franchise, the successful children's brand that has become a major European IP with collectibles, toys, and television series.
• RTVEmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpanish public broadcaster and co-producer for multiple Filmax projects including El Nido, Superthings film, and Citas Barcelona. Also participates in films like Una Casa en la Playa.
• 3CatmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatalan public broadcaster and co-producer for Filmax projects including Superthings film and Una Casa en la Playa.
• À PuntminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorValencian public broadcaster participating in co-productions like Superthings film.
• HBOminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStreaming platform participating in Una Casa en la Playa production.
• Paramount Pictures SpainmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational distribution partner for theatrical releases including the Tad the Lost Explorer franchise.
• NetflixmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStreaming platform for series like Feria and Superthings series distribution.
• Amazon Prime VideomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOriginal documentary and series production partner including El desafío: ETA, SEVE, and Citas Barcelona.
• Movistar Plus+majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOriginal series production partner for Todos Mienten, Los sin nombre, and 5 Minutos Más.
• FilminminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStreaming platform for Selftape series distribution.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Gaumont: One of Europe's oldest integrated film studios combining production, theatrical distribution, and worldwide sales; comparable to Filmax in its vertically integrated film business model, though at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Mediapro: Large Spanish audiovisual group with film, TV, and distribution operations; comparable to Filmax as a Spanish incumbent in film production and sales but at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
• Pathé: Historic French integrated film company with production, distribution, and international sales; comparable to Filmax as a vertically integrated European producer-distributor with a deep catalog and theatrical ties.

Direct peers

• Studiocanal: European film production and distribution subsidiary of Canal+ operating across theatrical, home entertainment, and TV sales; comparable to Filmax as a vertically integrated European producer-distributor with a significant library and international sales capability.
• Beta Film: Major independent European content distributor handling international sales, financing, and co-production; comparable to Filmax International's international sales business unit, which sells produced and acquired content (e.g., 'Moss') to global buyers.
• Wild Bunch International: Independent European sales and distribution company handling international rights for arthouse and genre films; comparable to Filmax in its function as an international sales agent packaging Spanish/European titles for foreign buyers.
• Vértice 360: Spanish audiovisual company active in film production, theatrical distribution, and international sales; directly comparable as a Spanish-market peer combining production, distribution, and rights trading.
• A Contracorriente Films: A leading independent Spanish theatrical distributor and production company; directly comparable to Filmax in that it acquires and theatrically distributes arthouse, animation, and Spanish-language titles in Spain on a similar territorial-distribution-plus-rights-licensing model.

Regional players

• Atresmedia Cine: Film production arm of Spanish broadcaster Atresmedia producing and distributing Spanish theatrical titles; comparable to Filmax as a Spanish-language film producer targeting the same national market, though tied to a TV network rather than operating independent international sales.
• TF1 Studio: French film distribution and co-financing arm of TF1 Group; comparable to Filmax as a European distributor channeling theatrically released and TV-licensed content, though primarily operating in France and French-language territories rather than Iberia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/filmax
• YouTubeyoutube.com/filmax
• Facebookfacebook.com/filmaxentertainment
• Instagraminstagram.com/filmaxpresenta
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/filmax

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Filmax International