Filmin and distributor Elastica join forces in a pioneering partnership in Spain

Filmin, the streaming platform with the longest track record in the Spanish market, and Elastica, one of the country’s leading film production and distribution companies, have reached an agreement under which Filmin acquires Elastica’s distribution business.

The aim of this partnership, unprecedented in Spain’s audiovisual sector, is to consolidate a benchmark company in the Spanish independent industry with international ambition. This move follows a logic of vertical integration that is increasingly common in the European independent film market, strengthening Filmin’s commitment to cinemas.

“At Filmin we have always seen streaming as a complement to theatrical distribution and have championed cinemas as the starting point of everything. This agreement with Elastica, with whom we share a vision and values, consolidates our position in the market and will allow us to look after the best cinema from the red carpet to internet-connected devices”, says Juan Carlos Tous, CEO and founder of Filmin.

For his part, Enrique Costa, founder of Elastica, highlights “sharing innovation and judgement with Filmin, recognised in Spain and abroad as an example and a benchmark among streaming platforms, with which we share our dedication and passion for the seventh art”. The agreement between the two companies, which will continue to operate independently, is limited to Elastica’s acquisitions and distribution area and will not affect any other past or future commitments either company may have with other industry players.¹

“This agreement is the happy ending to a love story for cinemas and for film, one in which audiences will win, and which is committed to bringing quality independent cinema to the widest possible audience”, say Filmin and Elastica.

The partnership means Filmin can offer its subscribers some of the most eagerly awaited films of the coming months distributed by Elastica, such as the Málaga Film Festival winner “Yo no moriré de amor”, by Marta Matute; “Backrooms”, the international horror phenomenon of the season, number one at the Spanish box office with more than 200,000 viewers in its opening weekend; “The Riders”, the next film by Edward Berger (“Conclave”), produced by and starring Brad Pitt; and “De noche”, the next film by Todd Haynes (“Carol”), starring Pedro Pascal.

Filmin has been distributing some of its acquisitions in cinemas since 2021, alongside Elastica and other distributors. The two companies have co-distributed more than ten titles in recent years, since they began working together in 2021 with Leos Carax’s “Annette”. These include commercial hits such as “The Substance”, which grossed more than €3.6 million in Spain; “Anatomy of a Fall”, winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes and the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay; and “Drive My Car” (Oscar for Best International Feature in 2022).

“We are complementary companies and we share the belief that cinema makes us better as people and as a society. This is a natural step that recognises how closely aligned both companies are in our understanding of the best way to bring quality cinema to audiences”, say Filmin and Elastica.

¹ In this regard, “The Riders”, “Backrooms” and “De noche” will be available on HBO Max as well as on Filmin. And some of the films Elastica has announced it will release in cinemas in 2026, such as “La bola negra” (a Movistar Plus+ original production) and “Bunker” (Netflix), will not be available on Filmin.