Goodfellas is making a notable expansion into the Spanish market through a collaboration with renowned local producer Enrique López Lavigne. This new venture is set to focus on creating ambitious projects that showcase Spanish talent while appealing to international audiences.
The collaboration will be branded as Goodapatxe, a name that pays homage to Lavigne’s Apache Films, which he operates alongside El Studio. The initiative is targeting the production of two to three films each year.
While specific details about the initial projects remain undisclosed, the partners have indicated that they are in the early stages of developing a Spanish historic film noir, a western, a science fiction film, and several genre films helmed by emerging Spanish filmmakers.
Lavigne has been a significant figure in the Spanish independent film landscape for over three decades. He began his career as a film buyer for Canal Plus before transitioning into distribution at Sogecine. He began producing films in the late 1990s, earning credits on notable early works from acclaimed filmmakers such as Isabel Coixet, Javier Fesser, Julio Medem, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, and Daniel Calparsoro.
In the 2000s, he was behind three of Spain’s top ten highest-grossing films: Mortadelo & Filemon: The Big Adventure by Fessier, as well as J.A. Bayona’s The Impossible and A Monster Calls, both produced through his Apaches Entertainment in collaboration with Belen Atienza.
Lavigne has also found success with genre films, including Paco Plaza’s Verónica, The Grandmother, and the sequel to Danny Boyle’s zombie classic, 28 Weeks Later, directed by Fresnadillo.
In recent times, he has adapted to the streaming landscape, producing titles like the comedy Vergüenza for Movistar+, Paquita Salas for Netflix, and the series Veneno for Atresplayer, which delves into the life of the late Spanish transgender icon Cristina Ortiz Rodríguez.
Currently, he is preparing for the release of the romantic comedy Yo no soy ésa, directed by Maria Ripoll, which he co-produced with Sony Pictures International under his El Studio label.
Joining Lavigne in this venture is his trusted associate Pilar Robla, who has worked on recent projects like The Messiah by Los Javis for Movistar+.
“We are excited about this partnership with Enrique López Lavigne,” commented Goodfellas co-founder Vincent Maraval. “His deep understanding of the Spanish industry and impressive track record in nurturing local talent make him the ideal collaborator to find and support promising directors and projects with genuine international appeal.”
This collaboration was revealed at the San Sebastian Film Festival, where both partners are actively participating. Lavigne is present at the festival as co-producer of Luis Ortega’s film El Jockey, which has been selected for the Latin Horizons section and was announced as Argentina’s entry for the 97th Academy Awards after its premiere in Venice.
Goodfellas is also at San Sebastian as the sales agent for several festival titles, including Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl, Laura Carreira’s On Falling, Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, and Paco Plaza’s Mugaritz: No Bread, No Dessert, amongst others.
“It’s an exhilarating challenge to curate a line-up of European coproductions with Spanish talents and ambitious projects,” stated Lavigne. “We aim to compete with robust, well-funded, and original projects that hold significant international potential. We are leveraging the extensive festival and market experience of a team I respect deeply, led by Vincent Maraval and Brahim Chioua.”
He emphasized that Goodapatxe’s mission is to scout and cultivate new talent capable of transcending language, genre, and format barriers to reach global audiences, while adapting to the evolving landscape of the audiovisual industry.
“After 35 years as a buyer, distributor, and producer, nothing excites me more than to contribute to the future of cinema alongside the best partners,” Lavigne concluded.
Goodapatxe adds to Goodfellas’ growing portfolio of labels and joint ventures launched since its inception in 2019. This includes the genre-focused Wild West collaboration with Capricci, which has produced films like The Swarm and Vincent Must Die, in addition to sales initiatives Gebeka International, concentrating on animation, and Oui Michel, focusing on sports-themed films and series.