Vaca Films
Vaca Films is a Spanish independent film and television production company based in A Coruña, producing feature films, series, and documentaries for Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, and Movistar+, co-financed through public funds and international co-producers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersA Coruña, Spain
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Vaca Films does
Vaca Films is a Spanish film and television production company headquartered in A Coruña, Galicia, operating under the legal entity VACAFILMS STUDIO SL. Founded in 2003 and led by co-founders and executive producers Borja Pena and Emma Lustres, the company produces feature films, television series, and documentary content for theatrical release and major streaming platforms including Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, and Movistar+. The catalog spans more than 25 productions, encompassing crime thrillers (Celda 211, El Niño, La Sombra de La Ley, Fatum), original series (Clanes, La Unidad, El Desorden Que Dejas, Hasta el cielo: La serie), and documentaries (El Circo de los Muchachos), with breakout international success driven by the Netflix series Clanes (Gangs of Galicia).
The business model is project-based and structurally co-financed. Vaca Films typically retains a producer's equity stake while assembling a financing stack from Spanish public institutions (ICAA-Ministry of Culture, Regional Government of Andalusia, Galician AGADIC), the European Union's Creative Europe programme, and private co-producers such as Playtime (France), Grupo Tranquilo, Federation Spain, Umedia (Belgium), and Fasten Films. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time licensing deals with streaming platforms, theatrical distribution agreements with partners such as A Contracorriente Films, and international sales through agents like Playtime. The company operates with a lean 1-10 person core team, relying on project-based creative and production talent rather than a large permanent infrastructure.
Distribution is heavily platform-driven: Netflix has been the anchor customer (Clanes S1 and S2, El Desorden Que Dejas, Hasta el cielo: La serie, upcoming Lobo), with Prime Video, HBO Max, and Movistar+ serving as secondary distribution partners. Marketing relies on platform-driven promotion, the company website (vacafilms.com), YouTube, Twitter, and earned media in industry outlets such as Variety. The company has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, no proprietary technology platform, and no external equity ownership, operating as an independent production house scaling through public co-financing and platform commissioning relationships.
Vaca Films firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vaca Films
- Legal name
- VACAFILMS STUDIO SL
- Website
- https://vacafilms.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Vaca Films is a Spanish independent film and television production company based in A Coruña, producing feature films, series, and documentaries for Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, and Movistar+, co-financed through public funds and international co-producers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Vaca Films is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- A Coruña
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Vaca Films business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Film Distribution: Vaca Films produces feature films released theatrically in Spain and internationally, generating revenue through distribution agreements with theatrical distributors such as A Contracorriente Films.
- TV Series Licensing: The company produces television series licensed to streaming platforms including Netflix (Clanes, El Desorden Que Dejas, Hasta el cielo: La serie), Prime Video (Dímelo Bajito, El Circo de los Muchachos), and HBO Max (La Unidad, Sin Huella). Revenue is generated through licensing agreements with these platforms.
- Co-production Revenue: Vaca Films participates in co-productions with other production companies and receives funding from public institutions including ICAA-Ministry of Culture, Regional Government of Andalusia, and European Union Creative Europe program.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Vaca Films product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vaca Films is an independent Spanish film and television production company that develops, produces, and co-produces feature films, TV series, and documentary series. Content is monetized through theatrical distribution in Spain, international sales agency partnerships (Playtime), and licensing/original deals with global streaming platforms including Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, and Movistar+. The company supports productions with public financing from ICAA, the Regional Government of Andalusia, and the EU Creative Europe program.
Product overview
Vaca Films is a Spanish film and television production company that creates feature films and TV series. The company's product portfolio includes theatrical feature films across genres (thriller, drama, horror, comedy), documentary series for streaming platforms, and television series produced for major platforms including Netflix, Prime Video, and Movistar+. Key productions include the Clanes series franchise, feature films like Golpes, Fatum, and Infiesto, and documentary series like El Circo de los Muchachos. The company operates as a co-producer with international partners including Playtime, Federation Spain, and Umedia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Golpes (Holdups) Feature film released theatrically in Spain on December 5, 2025, with international sales handled by Playtime. Co-produced with Grupo Tranquilo and Playtime, premiered at Canneseries.
- Tell Me Softly (Dímelo Bajito) Feature film releasing December 2025 on Prime Video, a romantic drama produced by Prime Video and Vaca Films.
- Sin Huella Thriller film starring Pedro Alonso, co-produced by Federation Spain and Vaca Films, distributed theatrically by A Contracorriente Films in Spain.
- Lobo Netflix miniseries based on the real case of Manuel Blanco Romasanta, starring Luis Tosar and Tristán Ulloa, produced for Netflix.
- Clanes (Gangs of Galicia) Season 1 Netflix original series about a lawyer and the son of a drug trafficker in Galicia, Spain. Reached #1 on Netflix in 28 countries and Top 10 in 82 countries during its premiere week.
- Clanes Season 2 (Gangs of Galicia) Second season of the Netflix Clanes franchise, premiering April 3, 2026, becoming the most-watched series in Spain upon release.
- El Circo de los Muchachos Prime Video documentary series about Ciudad de los Muchachos, the children's city founded by Father Jesús Silva in Francoist Spain, released November 2024.
- La Unidad Movistar+ original police thriller series based on unpublished testimonies of anti-terrorism professionals.
- El Desorden Que Dejas Netflix mystery series released in 2020, about a literature teacher who investigates the predecessor whose post she took.
- Hasta el cielo: La serie Netflix crime series based on the 2020 film Hasta el cielo, following Sole, a widow navigating the criminal world of her late husband.
- El Tesoro 97-minute TV movie from 2008 about a 15-year-old orphan in Galicia drawn into illegal activity.
- El Partido 97-minute TV movie from 2006 about a factory worker whose company is acquired by an American industrial group.
- La Sombra de La Ley (Gun City) 2018 thriller set in 1921 Barcelona during the Years of Lead, in which a police officer investigates a military train robbery amid gangsters and anarchists.
- Feedback 2019 English-language thriller about a radio host whose live show is hijacked by masked intruders.
- Quien a Hierro Mata (Eye for an Eye) 2019 thriller about a nurse and a drug trafficker crossing paths in a story of betrayals, drugs, and family drama.
- Hasta el cielo (Sky High) 2020 crime film about Ángel, who rises through the ranks of a robbery gang after meeting Estrella.
- Código Emperador 2022 thriller about an intelligence agent who infiltrates a household tied to arms trafficking while working to expose a politician.
- Infiesto 2023 Netflix film set during Spain's state of emergency in which two inspectors investigate a case in an Asturian mining town.
- Fatum 2023 thriller about a gambling addict and a GEO sniper drawn into a betting-house robbery gone wrong.
- ¡SALTA! 2023 film set in 1989 A Coruña about two brothers searching for their mother, a scientist obsessed with wormholes.
- Somne 2005 horror/sci-fi film about a neurologist conducting an experiment on mind-to-computer data transfer during sleep.
- La Zona 2007 thriller about a teenager who discovers a fugitive hiding in his basement in a gated community.
- Déjate Caer 2008 comedy-drama about three friends whose routines are disrupted by the arrival of a new girl.
- Embargo 2010 Portuguese-Spanish co-production about Nuno, a sandwich vendor who invents a shoe-industry machine and ends up trapped in his car during an oil embargo.
- Lobos de Arga (Game of Werewolves) 2012 horror-comedy about a 1910 werewolf curse on a Galician town resurfaces when the last male descendant returns.
- Invasor 2012 thriller about a Spanish military doctor wounded overseas who, on returning home, refuses to cooperate with the official account.
- El Niño 2014 thriller set in the Strait of Gibraltar about young criminals entering the drug trade and police agents exposing the hashish route between Africa and Europe.
- Las Vidas Posibles de Mi Madre Upcoming 2026 feature film directed by Jorge Dorado about a filmmaker uncovering his mother's fight for freedom, co-produced with Fasten Films and Deal Productions.
- Dímelo en Secreto (Tell Me in Secret) Feature film that continues the Dímelo Bajito story, following Kamila Hamilton after the events of the first film.
Quantifiable outcome
- Clanes reached #1 on Netflix in 28 countries and Top 10 in 82 countries upon premiere
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Vaca Films
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Vaca Films technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Vaca Films partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, regional and minor.
- PlaytimecorePlaytime serves as international sales agent for Vaca Films productions including Golpes. They handle worldwide distribution and sales for feature films, managing international market presence.
- Grupo TranquilocoreCo-producer of Golpes alongside Vaca Films. Daniel Pérez Astiárraga for Grupo Tranquilo served as co-producer for the feature film.
- Movistar Plus+majorSpanish streaming platform participating in Golpes production. Part of the co-production consortium for the feature film.
- RTVEmajorSpanish public broadcaster participating in Golpes production with content contribution.
- Canal SurregionalAndalusian regional broadcaster participating in Golpes production.
- Canal+ FranceregionalFrench pay-TV channel participating in Golpes production with French market involvement.
- Federation SpaincoreCo-producer of Sin Huella alongside Vaca Films. Federation Spain leads the production of this feature film thriller.
- UmediamajorBelgian production company co-producing Sin Huella. Part of the multi-country co-production structure.
- Magu StudiosminorProduction studio associated with Sin Huella in a collaborative partnership arrangement.
- A Contracorriente FilmsmajorSpanish theatrical distributor handling cinema release of Sin Huella in Spain.
- NetflixcoreMajor streaming platform partner producing and distributing series including Clanes (both seasons), Hasta el cielo: La serie, El Desorden Que Dejas, and upcoming Lobo. Clanes Season 2 achieved #1 in Spain upon premiere.
- Prime VideocoreAmazon's streaming platform distributing Dímelo Bajito (Tell Me Softly) and El Circo de los Muchachos documentary series produced by Vaca Films.
- Movistar+coreSpanish telecom streaming platform that co-produced and distributed La Unidad series with Vaca Films.
- Fasten FilmsmajorCo-producer of Las Vidas Posibles de Mi Madre alongside Vaca Films. Lead production company for this feature film.
- Deal ProductionsminorCo-producer of Las Vidas Posibles de Mi Madre in collaboration with Vaca Films.
- Luis TosarcoreLead actor starring in Lobo miniseries based on real case of Manuel Blanco Romasanta.
- Tristán UlloacoreLead actor co-starring in Lobo miniseries with Luis Tosar.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Vaca Films competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Beta Film: Major European TV distribution and co-financing company based in Germany, handling international sales for premium European content. Comparable to Vaca Films' sales partner Playtime but at significantly larger scale.
- Atresmedia Studios: Production arm of Spanish broadcaster Atresmedia, producing scripted series and films for both domestic and international streamers. Larger incumbent with broader portfolio but overlapping in Spanish-language premium drama.
- The Mediapro Studio: One of the largest Spanish content production and distribution groups, producing premium series and films for global platforms. Larger and more diversified than Vaca Films but the most consequential Spanish producer competing for the same streamer commissions.
Direct peers
- Plano a Plano: Spanish independent production company behind major Netflix originals such as Élite and Through My Window. Comparable to Vaca Films in producing Spanish-language drama series for international streaming platforms.
- Vancouver Media: Spanish production company behind La Casa de Papel (Money Heist), one of Netflix's biggest non-English hits. Highly comparable mid-sized Spanish producer building global franchise IP for streamers, acquired by Sony Pictures Television.
- Buendia Estudios: Spanish film and TV production company producing premium drama and thrillers for global streamers (Netflix, Amazon). Directly comparable to Vaca Films in business model, Spanish-language output, and streamer-first strategy.
- Federation Spain: Spanish arm of Federation Entertainment, a Paris-based production and distribution group. Direct co-production partner on Vaca Films' Sin Huella, with similar profile producing international co-productions for streamers and broadcasters.
- Umedia: Belgian film and TV production company co-producing Sin Huella with Vaca Films. Comparable European mid-market producer engaged in multi-country co-productions with public funding support and international distribution.
Regional players
- A Contracorriente Films: Spanish theatrical distributor and producer that handles Spanish cinema release for Vaca Films titles. Operates in the same Spanish-language film ecosystem with overlapping titles but focused on theatrical exhibition rather than series.
Emerging players
- Mr. Miyagi Films: Madrid-based Spanish film and TV production company producing high-quality genre and drama features. Comparable emerging Spanish indie with similar approach to auteur-driven projects for international platforms.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vaca Films social profiles
Digital presenceVaca Films financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vaca Films leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Vaca Films funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vaca Films M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vaca Films
What does Vaca Films do?
Vaca Films is an independent Spanish film and television production company that develops, produces, and co-produces feature films, TV series, and documentary series. Content is monetized through theatrical distribution in Spain, international sales agency partnerships (Playtime), and licensing/original deals with global streaming platforms including Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, and Movistar+. The company supports productions with public financing from ICAA, the Regional Government of Andalusia, and the EU Creative Europe program.
Is Vaca Films a public or private company?
Vaca Films is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Vaca Films founded?
Vaca Films was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Vaca Films based?
Vaca Films is headquartered in A Coruña, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does Vaca Films make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Film Distribution is the primary driver. The others are TV Series Licensing and co-production Revenue.
Who are Vaca Films's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Beta Film, Atresmedia Studios and The Mediapro Studio. Direct peers are Plano a Plano, Vancouver Media, Buendia Estudios, Federation Spain and Umedia. A Contracorriente Films is listed as a regional player. Mr. Miyagi Films is listed as an emerging player.
Does Vaca Films have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vaca Films.