Filmin acquires Elastica's distribution business in a pioneering alliance for Spanish independent cinema
Spanish streaming platform Filmin has purchased the distribution business of Elastica, a move both call unprecedented in the Spanish audiovisual sector, aiming to create a leading independent film company with international reach.
The deal
Filmin, Spain's longest-running streaming platform, has taken over the distribution arm of Elastica, one of the country's most prominent film distributors and producers. The transaction, announced on 12 June 2026, is described by both companies as an alliance without precedent in Spanish audiovisual. The stated goal is to build a benchmark independent company with international ambition, responding to a trend of vertical integration across the European indie film market.
We have always understood streaming as a complement to cinema distribution and we have defended theatres as the beginning of everything. This agreement with Elastica, with whom we share vision and values, consolidates our position in the market and will allow us to take care of the best cinema from the red carpet to internet-connected devices.
Why now
The move reinforces Filmin's commitment to theatrical windows at a time when global streaming giants are retreating from them. Netflix's film chief Dan Lin recently told The New York Times that the platform would not work with creators who insist on traditional cinema releases. Filmin and Elastica, by contrast, are betting that the path from festival red carpets to living-room screens is a single journey.
We share innovation and editorial standards with Filmin, recognised inside and outside Spain as an example and reference in the world of streaming platforms, with whom we share dedication and passion for the seventh art.
What the acquisition covers
The agreement is limited to Elastica's acquisitions and distribution business. Both companies will continue to operate autonomously under their own brands. Elastica's production division, led by producer María Zamora (National Cinema Award winner), stays independent and will keep developing projects — some with other platforms. Already-scheduled titles retain their original homes: 'La bola negra' remains an original production for Movistar Plus, Florian Zeller's 'Bunker' with Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem will stream on Netflix, while several high-profile titles such as 'The Riders', 'Backrooms' and the new Todd Haynes film 'De noche' will be shared between Filmin and HBO Max.
Film catalogue and track record
Since 2021 the two companies have co-distributed acclaimed works including 'Annette' (the Leos Carax musical that opened Cannes), 'Drive My Car', 'Anatomy of a Fall', 'The Substance' and the recent horror hit 'Backrooms'. Upcoming titles entering Filmin's catalogue through the deal include 'Yo no moriré de amor' (winner at the Málaga Film Festival), 'The Riders' directed by Edward Berger and starring Brad Pitt, and 'De noche' featuring Pedro Pascal. Filmin's library now counts more than 11,000 feature films and 500 series, including original productions.
Milestones
- Filmin founded in Barcelona
- Elastica founded; first joint distribution of 'Annette' at Cannes
- Filmin acquires Elastica's distribution business
The alliance is the latest chapter in a two-decade story. Filmin was founded in Barcelona in 2007 by Juan Carlos Tous, Jaume Ripoll and José Antonio De Luna, together with a group of independent distributors. Elastica was established in 2021 by Enrique Costa, responsible for bringing titles by Ruben Östlund, Yorgos Lanthimos and László Nemes to Spanish audiences. The acquisition brings Costa into Filmin's management committee.
