Filmax International is a Spanish motion picture production company and

film distributor A film distributor is a person responsible for the marketing of a film. The distribution company may be the same as, or different from, the production company. Distribution deals are an important part of financing a film. The distributor may set ...

based in

Barcelona Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...

, and one of Spain's largest integrated film and television groups. It produced the ''REC'' horror series, and owns the Nirvana Films and New World Films International distributors and the

Fantastic Factory Filmax International is a Spanish motion picture production company and film distributor based in Barcelona, and one of Spain's largest integrated film and television groups. It produced the ''REC'' horror series, and owns the Nirvana Films and ...

label, dedicated to create fantasy films in the horror,

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

and action genres created in 1998 by

Brian Yuzna Brian Yuzna is an American film producer, director, and writer. He is best known for his work in the science fiction and horror film genres. Yuzna began his career as a producer for several films by director Stuart Gordon, such as ''Re-Animator ...

and Julio Fernández. At different times, Filmax has entered into distribution agreements with

Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. **Paramount Picture ...

, Lauren Films, Lakeshore,

Summit A summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. The topographic terms acme, apex, peak (mountain peak), and zenith are synonymous. The term (mountain top) is generally used only for ...

, Fintage House, Nu lmage,

Annapurna Annapurna (; ) is a mountain situated in the Annapurna mountain range of Gandaki Province, north-central Nepal. It is the 10th highest mountain in the world at above sea level and is well known for the difficulty and danger involved in its as ...

and Freeway.

History

The company was founded in 1953 by Alfredo Talarewitz, as a distributor of

Hollywood films The cinema of the United States, primarily associated with major film studios collectively referred to as Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood, has significantly influenced the global film industry since the early 20th century. Classical Holly ...

. From 1955 onwards, it collaborated with Spanish production company . Between 1963 and 1968, the company signed a distribution agreement in Spain with

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

to distribute the films from its catalog. The Filmax trademark was acquired in 1987 by Julio Fernández. In 2019, Filmax had distributed over 800 films.

Releases

2020s

Fantastic Factory

American producer

and Spanish producer Julio Fernández founded Fantastic Factory in 1998 and was

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

's first major production house to specialize in horror films with a notable lean towards the international market. Yuzna stated his goal with the studio was to establish a business model similar to other independent horror producers like

American International Pictures American International Pictures, LLC (AIP or American International Productions) is an American film production company owned by Amazon MGM Studios. In its original operating period, AIP was an independent film production and distribution c ...

and

Hammer Film Productions Hammer Film Productions Ltd. is a British film production company based in London. Founded in 1934, the company is best known for a series of Gothic horror and fantasy films made from the mid-1950s until the 1970s. Many of these involve classi ...

. Yuzna's approach to the company saw him utilize seasoned imported American talent such as himself,

Stuart Gordon Stuart Alan Gordon (August 11, 1947 – March 24, 2020) was an American Filmmaking, filmmaker, theatre director, screenwriter, and playwright. Initially recognized for his provocative and frequently controversial work in experimental theatre, Go ...

, and

Jack Sholder Jack Sholder (born June 8, 1945 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a retired American Film director, director, best known for his work in the horror film genre, notably ''Alone in the Dark (1982 film), Alone in the Dark'', ''A Nightmare on Elm Str ...

helming certain projects while also fostering locally procured Spanish directors for other projects made by the company. From 2000-2005, the company produced nine films all of which were shot in English. Fantastic Factory is seen as laying the groundwork for more successful Spanish genre film making and filmmakers such as the '' ��REC' film series directed by Fantastic Factory alums

Jaume Balagueró Jaume Balagueró Bernat (; born 2 November 1968) is a Spanish film director and screenwriter known for his horror films, most notably the acclaimed REC (film), ''REC'' series. Early life Balagueró was born in Lleida and grew up in Barcelona ...

and Paco Plaza.

Films

Notes

References

External links

*{{official website Companies based in Barcelona Film production companies of Spain Film distributors of Spain Mass media companies established in 1953 Spanish companies established in 1953