El Deseo

What El Deseo does

El Deseo S.A. is a privately held Spanish film production company founded in 1983 by brothers Pedro Almodóvar and Agustín Almodóvar, headquartered at calle Francisco Navacerrada 24, Madrid. The company produces feature-length fiction films, documentaries, and television series, and has built a catalog of over 40 productions spanning four decades. Its portfolio is anchored by Pedro Almodóvar's auteur work—titles such as Todo sobre mi madre, Hable con ella, Volver, La piel que habito, Julieta, and Dolor y Gloria—supplemented by co-productions with international directors including Guillermo del Toro (El espinazo del diablo), Isabel Coixet (Mi vida sin mi, La vida secreta de las palabras), Lucrecia Martel (La niña santa, La mujer rubia), Damián Szifron (Relatos Salvajes), and Pablo Trapero (El Clan).

El Deseo monetizes its productions through a multi-window distribution model: theatrical release in Spain and international territories, per-territory international rights sales via sales agents, home entertainment (DVD/BluRay) through Cameo in Spain, streaming/VOD licensing through Filmin, television broadcasting rights to networks such as TVE and Canal+, and soundtrack/music product sales via iTunes. Marketing relies on film festival premieres (Cannes, Venice, Toronto, San Sebastián), the company website (eldeseo.es), and organic social channels (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter). The operating footprint spans Spain, major European markets (France, UK, Germany, Italy), the United States, Latin America (Argentina, Chile, Mexico), and Asia (China), with co-production partnerships anchoring the international reach.

The company has earned two Academy Awards—Best Foreign Language Film for Todo sobre mi madre (2000) and Best Original Screenplay for Hable con ella (2003)—and its films are routinely selected at top-tier international festivals. Core leadership comprises Pedro Almodóvar (founder/director), Agustín Almodóvar (executive producer), and Esther García (production director). El Deseo operates without disclosed revenue, headcount, or external funding, and its production workflows reflect a traditional creative process without disclosed use of AI/ML tooling or proprietary technology platforms.

Name

El Deseo

Legal name

EL DESEO S.A.

Website

https://eldeseo.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

El Deseo S.A. is a privately held Spanish film production company founded in 1983 by Pedro and Agustín Almodóvar, producing 40+ feature films, documentaries, and TV series distributed globally through theatrical, streaming, home entertainment, and television channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Film Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (512120)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Home Entertainment Distribution (Digital: TVOD/EST) (MPADAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Electronic Sell-Through (EST) Distribution (MPADAJAG)

Keywords

• Film production
• Feature films
• Documentary production
• Television series
• International co-production

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Theatrical Distribution: Revenue generated from theatrical distribution agreements in Spain and international territories through sales agents and distributors.
2. International Sales / Cesión de Derechos: International rights sales to distributors in various territories, including Latin America, Europe, and the rest of the world.
3. Home Entertainment (DVD / BluRay): Physical media sales through retail and wholesale channels in Spain via distribution partner Cameo.
4. Streaming / VOD Licensing: Licensing of streaming rights to platforms such as Filmin in Spain for video-on-demand distribution.
5. Television Broadcasting Rights: Sales of broadcast rights to television networks (e.g., TVE, Canal+) for airing of produced films.
6. Product Sales (B.S.O. / Soundtracks): Sales of film soundtracks and related music products through platforms such as iTunes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

El Deseo is dedicated to the production of audio-visual works including feature-length fiction films, documentaries, and television series. The company produces cinematic content (with a catalog of 40+ titles since 1983) and facilitates commercial distribution through theatrical release, home entertainment (DVD/BluRay via Cameo), streaming (Filmin), international rights sales via sales agents, and television broadcasting rights.

Product overview

El Deseo S.A. is a Spanish audiovisual production company founded by Pedro and Agustín Almodóvar, dedicated to producing fiction feature films, documentaries, and television series. The company's core offering consists of feature-length fiction productions—including acclaimed works by Pedro Almodóvar and co-productions with international directors such as Guillermo del Toro, Lucrecia Martel, Isabel Coixet, Álex de la Iglesia, and Pablo Trapero—alongside documentary films and television series. El Deseo operates as a production house rather than a technology platform; its products are cinematic works made available to audiences through distribution partnerships with sales platforms such as Cameo (DVD/BluRay), Filmin (streaming), and iTunes (soundtracks). The company website functions as a catalog showcasing its extensive filmography.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Feature Films (Largometrajes de Ficción)

Quantifiable outcome

• Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for 'Todo sobre mi madre' (2000)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Agustín AlmodóvarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore production partner appearing across the majority of El Deseo productions. Consistently credited as producer/executive producer on Almodóvar-directed films and co-productions with other directors such as Guillermo del Toro, Isabel Coixet, and Damián Szifron. A founding pillar of the El Deseo production model alongside Pedro Almodóvar.
• Esther GarcíacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral production figure appearing across the entire El Deseo catalog, serving as production director and/or producer on virtually all productions. Provides consistent production management and operational continuity across the company's diverse filmography spanning four decades.
• Michel RubencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate producer appearing across numerous El Deseo productions spanning from 'Todo sobre mi madre' (1999) through to El Clan (2015), indicating a long-standing collaborative relationship across the company's catalog.
• Pedro AlmodóvarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive producer on multiple El Deseo productions including Dolor y Gloria (2019) and El Clan (2015). Pedro Almodóvar is the creative director and brand identity of the El Deseo catalog, which is built around his auteur vision and filmmaking.
• Mediapro (Jaume Roures)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Spanish production company (Mediapro / Jaume Roures) appearing as co-production partner on La vida secreta de las palabras (2005), Descongélate (2003), and José y Pilar (2010). Represents one of El Deseo's most frequent recurring Spanish production partners.
• K&S FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArgentine production company (K&S Films / Hugo Sigman, Matías Mosteirin) appearing as co-producer on Relatos Salvajes (2014) and El Clan (2015), two of El Deseo's most internationally recognized co-productions.
• o2 FilmesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian production company appearing as co-producer alongside El Deseo and Jumpcut on José y Pilar (2010), a documentary by Miguel Gonçalves Mendes about José Saramago.
• Pantanal CinemamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArgentine production company appearing as co-producer on El Clan (2015) alongside El Deseo, Kramer & Sigman Films, and Matanza Cine.
• Kramer & Sigman FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArgentine production company appearing as primary producer on Relatos Salvajes (2014) alongside El Deseo, with coproduction support from Telefe and international backing from INCAA and ICAA.
• Bertha NavarromajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexican producer and long-time collaborator of Guillermo del Toro, appearing as producer on El espinazo del diablo (2001) alongside El Deseo.
• Roswell ProduccionesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish production company appearing as co-producer alongside El Deseo on The Labèque Way (2012), a documentary about the Labèque sisters directed by Félix Cábez.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Pathé: European film production, distribution, and exhibition company with a deep catalog and ongoing theatrical operations. Comparable to El Deseo in its European auteur production focus and integrated distribution capabilities.
• StudioCanal: European film production and distribution subsidiary of Canal+ Group, handling both in-house production and catalog distribution. Comparable to El Deseo in its European auteur focus and catalog licensing activities, though operating at significantly larger scale.
• Gaumont: One of the oldest European film production and distribution companies, with a substantial catalog of European auteur cinema. Comparable to El Deseo in its French/European production heritage, festival-circuit presence, and international sales operations.
• Good Machine (historical): Historical US-based independent film production company known for backing auteur filmmakers during the 1990s–2000s (predecessor entity to Focus Features' indie slate). Comparable to El Deseo in its auteur-centric production model and festival-circuit integration.

Direct peers

• A24: US-based independent film production and distribution company focused on auteur and prestige cinema. Highly comparable to El Deseo in its emphasis on festival-circuit recognition, director-driven projects, and award-winning feature film slate.
• Mediapro: Major Spanish audiovisual production company and a recurring El Deseo co-production partner. Comparable in its Spanish-language film and television production capabilities, though Mediapro operates at substantially greater scale across sports, fiction, and distribution.
• NEON: US-based independent film production and distribution company specializing in auteur cinema and festival-circuit titles (including multiple recent Oscar winners). Comparable to El Deseo in its prestige positioning, director-driven slate, and international festival strategy.
• Wanda Vision (Wanda Films): Spanish independent film production and distribution company focused on arthouse and European auteur cinema. Comparable to El Deseo in its Spanish-language production base and arthouse festival positioning, though with a smaller catalog.

Emerging players

• MUBI: Global streaming platform and production/distribution entity focused on curated arthouse and auteur cinema. Comparable to El Deseo in its art-house audience focus and its role as both a content acquirer and producer.

Regional players

• Soda Pictures: UK-based arthouse film distributor with streaming and theatrical operations focused on European and world cinema. Comparable to El Deseo in its arthouse and European-language film focus, particularly relevant given El Deseo's UK distribution presence.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/eldeseo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/eldeseopc
• Facebookfacebook.com/eldeseo.oficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/el-deseo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 El Deseo