AF
AF Films is a Madrid-based, privately-held Spanish film and television production company founded by Frank Ariza, producing roughly 30 titles across cinema and series for Netflix, Disney+, MUBI, and Amazon Prime Video via international co-productions targeting Spanish-speaking and global audiences.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersMadrid, Spain
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AF does
AF Films is a privately-held Spanish film and television production company founded by Frank Ariza and operated under the legal entity AF Films & Productions, SLU. The company is headquartered in Madrid (Calle Alcalá, 126, 28009) with a production base in the Canary Islands that qualifies productions for a 40% tax rebate, and it has filmed in Spain, the United States, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. It operates two primary divisions: AF Films Cinema (Cine) for feature films and AF Films Television for series, with a portfolio of approximately 30 titles spanning drama, comedy, thriller, action, horror, documentaries, and musicals. Recent and upcoming productions include the documentary 'Pétros Ení' with Vatican Media and Chris Pratt, 'Last Days' with MUBI and Oscar-winning co-producers, 'Sorry Baby' which premiered at Sundance 2025, the action-thriller 'Hammer Down' with Atlas Entertainment (Charles Roven), and 'Chopper' with Hidden Pictures.
The company's business model centers on acquiring remake rights to successful international films (notably Italian and Mexican titles such as 'Buen Camino', 'Per Tutta La Vita' / 'Desposados', 'Follemente' / 'Amor y Mente', and Guillermo Arriaga's 'Perro blanco, Perro negro') and developing them with international casts and co-production partners for Spanish-speaking and global audiences. Revenue is generated through distribution deals with theatrical exhibitors, global streaming platforms (Netflix, Disney+, MUBI, Amazon Prime Video, Star Distribution), and traditional television networks (Televisión Española, Mediaset España), with co-production financing and licensing/royalty structures. Its go-to-market motion is sales-led and project-based, anchored by long-running partnerships with BTF Media and an expanding roster of Oscar-tier international co-producers. The company has no disclosed external institutional ownership, no funding rounds in the input data, and no headcount disclosed; it is founder-led with Frank Ariza as CEO and Manu Vega as producing partner, plus a Mexico lead (Luisa Perzabal) and a recently launched direct-to-consumer fan channel, Club AF.
AF firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AF
- Legal name
- AF Films & Productions, SLU
- Website
- https://frankariza.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- AF Films is a Madrid-based, privately-held Spanish film and television production company founded by Frank Ariza, producing roughly 30 titles across cinema and series for Netflix, Disney+, MUBI, and Amazon Prime Video via international co-productions targeting Spanish-speaking and global audiences.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where AF is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madrid
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
AF 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 Production & Distribution: AF Films produces theatrical films and television series, generating revenue through distribution deals with theatrical exhibitors, streaming platforms (Netflix, Disney+, MUBI, Amazon Prime Video, Star Distribution), and TV networks (Televisión Española, Mediaset España). Revenue comes from licensing, co-production financing, and distribution rights.
- Remake Rights Acquisition & Development: The company acquires rights to successful international films (Italian, Korean, Mexican) and produces localized remakes, generating revenue through development deals, co-production partnerships, and distribution rights sales.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
AF product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AF Films is a Spanish film and television production company that produces theatrical films and TV series, often acquiring remake rights to successful international films (Italian, Korean, Mexican) and developing Spanish-language adaptations. The company produces content across genres including comedy, drama, thriller, action, horror, documentary, and musical, with distribution through streaming platforms (Netflix, Disney+, MUBI, Amazon Prime Video), theatrical exhibitors, and traditional television networks in Spain and Latin America.
Product overview
AF Films is a Spanish film and television production company founded by Frank Ariza, based in Madrid with production operations in the Canary Islands. The company operates two primary divisions: AF Films Cinema (Cine) for feature film production, and AF Films Television (Series) for TV series. The portfolio spans nearly 30 titles including dramas, comedies, thrillers, action films, horror, documentaries, and musicals. Notable productions include 'Pétros Ení' (documentary with Chris Pratt), 'Sorry Baby' (premiered at Sundance 2025), 'Last Days' (musical in partnership with MUBI and Oscar-winning studios), 'Above & Below' (action thriller with Antonio Banderas), and 'Mariachis' (Mexican comedy series). The company also maintains Club AF, a fan membership program offering pre-screening invitations and promotional access. Productions are developed with international co-production partners including BTF Media, Vatican Media, Atlas Entertainment (Charles Roven), and Hidden Pictures, with distribution through platforms like Disney+, Netflix, MUBI, and Amazon Prime Video.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AF Films Cinema (Cine) Feature film production division producing dramas, comedies, thrillers, action films, horror, documentaries, and musicals across Spain, Mexico, and international markets. Titles include 'Sorry Baby' (Sundance 2025), 'Pétros Ení' (with Chris Pratt and Vatican Media), 'Last Days' (with MUBI and Oscar-winning studios), 'Above & Below' (action thriller with Antonio Banderas), 'La Familia Benetón' (#1 comedy in Spanish cinemas), and 'Mariachis'. Distributed via theatrical exhibitors and streaming platforms including Netflix, Disney+, MUBI, Amazon Prime Video.
- AF Films Television (Series/TV) Television series production division for streaming platforms and broadcast TV, including dramas, comedies, youth series, crime thrillers, and musical shows. Notable series include 'La increíble historia de Julia Pastrana' (Disney+), 'Mariachis' (Mexican comedy), 'Herederos por Accidente' (2 seasons), 'Secretos de Estado', 'El Continental', and 'Cupido'. Distributed via streaming platforms (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video) and broadcast networks (Televisión Española, Mediaset España, Playz).
- Club AF A fan membership club that provides invitations to pre-screenings, test screenings, promotional gifts, updates on upcoming releases, and entry into giveaways for AF Films' audience of Spanish-speaking film enthusiasts. Members register personal details and select interest categories across multiple genres (comedy, drama, thriller, romance, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, documentary, family, animation).
Quantifiable outcome
- Production base in Canary Islands provides 40% tax rebate for international productions
Companies that use AF
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
AF technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AF partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- LatinWeflagshipPartnership to acquire and develop 'Perro Blanco, Perro Negro' - the original screenplay for 'Amores Perros' by Guillermo Arriaga - for premium TV series adaptation.
- Hidden PicturesflagshipProducer of 'The Housemaid' partnering with AF Films on action-thriller 'Chopper', with Todd Lieberman and Alex Young from Hidden Pictures producing.
- Many EnterprisescoreOscar-winning studio co-producing 'Last Days', adaptation of Matt Copson and Oliver Leith's opera, based on Gus Van Sant's film about Kurt Cobain.
- Louverture FilmscoreOscar-nominated studio co-producing 'Last Days' with AF Films and Many Enterprises for MUBI platform.
- Atlas EntertainmentflagshipOscar-winning producer Charles Roven (Oppenheimer, The Dark Knight trilogy) partnering with AF Films on action-thriller 'Hammer Down', with AF leading European production.
- Vatican MediaflagshipCo-production partnership with Vatican Media for documentary 'Pétros Ení' featuring Chris Pratt and Pope Leo XIV, exploring the tomb of Saint Peter in the Vatican Necropolis.
- Fabric of St PetercoreCo-production partner for 'Pétros Ení' documentary about the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica.
- BTF MediaflagshipRecurring co-production partner on multiple AF Films projects including 'V de Víctor', 'Instintos', 'Islas', 'Mariachis', and others.
- Leone Film GroupcoreItalian partner providing rights to Paolo Genovese's 'Per Tutta La Vita' for Spanish remake 'Desposados'.
- PiperPlaycoreHandling international remake rights sales for 'Buen Camino', Italy's most successful film ever with 70M+ euros box office.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AF competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Beta Film: Germany-based European content distribution and co-production powerhouse managing rights and co-financing across multiple languages. Comparable international co-production and rights-acquisition model at larger scale.
- Atresmedia Studios: Production arm of Spanish broadcaster Atresmedia, producing TV series and films for Spanish and international markets. Larger incumbent with broader portfolio but comparable Spanish-language production and distribution activities.
- Mediaset España / Telecinco Cinema: Major Spanish broadcaster with in-house production arm distributing content via Telecinco and affiliated platforms. Larger incumbent serving as both distributor and producer of Spanish-language content, with comparable genre breadth.
Direct peers
- A Contracorriente Films: Spanish production and distribution company active in feature films and international co-productions. Comparable independent Spanish player with theatrical distribution and remake rights activities.
- Buendia Estudios: Spanish production company producing premium series and films with international co-production partners (founded by former Mediapro executives). Closely comparable Spanish production model targeting global streamers.
- Vancouver Media: Spanish production company behind globally distributed Netflix hits (La Casa de Papel, Élite). Closely comparable Spanish indie production model selling premium Spanish-language content to global streamers with international co-productions.
- Mediapro: Spain's largest independent production group, producing feature films and premium TV series for global streamers and broadcasters. Direct competitor in Spanish-language film/TV production with comparable international co-production footprint and similar platform relationships.
- Leone Film Group: Italian production company and rights holder that supplied AF Films with remake rights to 'Per Tutta La Vita'. Comparable production-and-rights business model in a different language market with direct counterparty relationship to AF Films.
- Pokeepsie Films: Spanish production house behind 'La Casa de Papel' and 'Sky Rojo', producing high-end Spanish-language series for global streamers. Comparable indie Spanish production model with strong Netflix and international platform relationships.
- BTF Media: Mexico-based production company and recurring AF Films co-production partner on titles like 'V de Víctor', 'Instintos', 'Islas', and 'Mariachis'. Comparable mid-sized Spanish-language production footprint with focus on international co-productions.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AF social profiles
Digital presenceAF financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AF leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
AF funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AF 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 AF
What does AF do?
AF Films is a Spanish film and television production company that produces theatrical films and TV series, often acquiring remake rights to successful international films (Italian, Korean, Mexican) and developing Spanish-language adaptations. The company produces content across genres including comedy, drama, thriller, action, horror, documentary, and musical, with distribution through streaming platforms (Netflix, Disney+, MUBI, Amazon Prime Video), theatrical exhibitors, and traditional television networks in Spain and Latin America.
Is AF a public or private company?
AF is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AF founded?
AF was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is AF based?
AF is headquartered in Madrid, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does AF make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Film Production & Distribution is the primary driver. The others are remake Rights Acquisition & Development.
Who are AF's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Beta Film, Atresmedia Studios and Mediaset España / Telecinco Cinema. Direct peers are A Contracorriente Films, Buendia Estudios, Vancouver Media, Mediapro, Leone Film Group, Pokeepsie Films and BTF Media.
Does AF have an API?
No public API is recorded for AF.