Alta Films

Overview

Alta Films S.A. was a Madrid-based independent film distribution company that operated from 1969 until it ceased distribution activity in May 2013. Founded by Enrique Gonzalez Macho, the company released over 280 titles across its 44-year history, specializing in subtitled foreign films, European arthouse cinema, and Latin American productions for the Spanish theatrical market. Alta Films also operated the Renoir multiplex chain, which at its peak ran 200 screens across Spain, including the flagship Renoir near Plaza de Espana in Madrid and the Renoir Floridablanca in Barcelona.

The company is no longer active as a distributor. Filmmakers encountering the Alta Films name in research, film credits, or co-production contexts should understand that the company ceased acquiring and releasing films in 2013. Its cinema operations continued on a limited basis, but the distribution arm is closed. For current Spanish theatrical distribution, filmmakers should look to Golem, Avalon, Karma, and the major studio arms operating in Spain.

History and Closure

Enrique Gonzalez Macho founded Alta Films in 1969, initially focusing on the distribution of subtitled foreign films to Spanish film clubs and cultural associations. In 1984, he purchased the company outright for three million pesetas (approximately 18,000 euros) from its previous owners, Samarina, and repositioned it for broader theatrical distribution. The company's early catalog included Soviet films acquired through a trade agreement with Sovexportfilm, which allowed Alta to buy lower-cost Soviet titles while facilitating the sale of Spanish productions to the USSR.

Over the following decades, Alta Films built a catalog spanning European arthouse, Latin American cinema, and prestige English-language productions. The production branch worked with directors including Ken Loach, Iciar Bollain, and Tomas Gutierrez Alea. In 1982, the company developed the Renoir multiplex near Plaza de Espana in Madrid, eventually expanding to a network of 200 screens.

In April 2013, Paramount Home Media Distribution announced an agreement to handle DVD and Blu-ray distribution for Alta Films' catalog. Shortly after, Gonzalez Macho announced the company's closure as a distributor. He cited three factors: the increase in VAT on cultural goods (raised from 8% to 21% in Spain in 2012), dwindling support from TVE (Television Espanola), and the ongoing Spanish economic crisis. At the time of the announcement, Alta Films had the Argentine film 2+2 pending release on May 1, 2013. The company ceased all distribution activity that month and limited its operations to its Madrid theaters and the Renoir Floridablanca in Barcelona.

Distribution Model (Historical)

Alta Films distributed theatrically in Spain through partnerships with arthouse cinemas and its own Renoir cinema chain. The company handled its own theatrical marketing and publicity, targeting Spain's film press, arts media, and arthouse cinema communities in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, and Bilbao.

Home entertainment and digital releases followed the theatrical window through partnerships with Spanish VOD platforms. In the later years of operation, Filmin, a Barcelona-based SVOD service focused on arthouse and quality cinema, functioned as a key digital distribution window for Spanish arthouse distributors. Filmin continues to operate and remains a relevant platform for filmmakers seeking Spanish digital distribution.

Notable Releases

Alta Films' catalog of over 280 titles included a range of international arthouse and Spanish-language productions. Notable distributed titles included The Artist and the Model (2012), White Elephant (2012), Two Days in New York (2013), and Scorpion in Love (2013). The company also distributed older catalog titles going back to the 1990s, including Cold Comfort Farm (1997 theatrical release in Spain) and Poodle Springs (1999).

The production branch collaborated with Ken Loach, Iciar Bollain, and Tomas Gutierrez Alea, among others. These co-production relationships gave Alta Films a role in Spanish-language filmmaking beyond pure distribution.

Latin American Cinema Focus

Alta Films had a particular strength in distributing Latin American cinema in Spain, reflecting the linguistic and cultural connection between Spain and Spanish-speaking Latin America. Films from Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and other Latin American territories with Spanish market appeal were consistent acquisition targets. The Argentine film 2+2, pending release at the time of closure, was a typical example of this acquisition strategy.

For Latin American filmmakers currently seeking Spanish theatrical distribution, the active companies to contact are Golem Distribution, Avalon Distribucion, and Karma Films. Spain's co-production treaties with multiple Latin American countries continue to create pathways for Spanish-language productions with Pan-American distribution potential.

What Filmmakers Should Know

Alta Films is no longer acquiring films. Filmmakers should not submit films or pitch projects to Alta Films. The company's closure in 2013 removed one of Spain's longest-running independent arthouse distributors from the market.

For filmmakers researching Spanish distribution history or co-production contexts, Alta Films' 44-year catalog provides a reference point for the types of films that historically succeeded in the Spanish arthouse market: European prestige drama, Latin American Spanish-language productions, and international festival selections with crossover appeal.

For current Spanish distribution, the active players include:

• Golem Distribution: Spain's leading arthouse distributor, based in Pamplona and Madrid
• Avalon Distribucion: Barcelona-based distributor handling arthouse and Spanish-language titles
• Karma Films: Madrid-based distributor focused on international arthouse and documentary
• Filmax: Barcelona-based studio handling broader commercial and genre titles
• Major studio arms: Disney, Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros., and Sony all maintain Spanish distribution operations

For Spanish digital distribution, Filmin remains the primary arthouse-focused SVOD platform, alongside the major streaming services operating in Spain.

See Also

For how Spanish theatrical and digital distribution fits into a European territory strategy, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model Spanish theatrical revenue as part of a broader international release plan, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For active Spanish distributors, see Golem in this directory.