Julio Fernández, the pioneering founder of Barcelona-based studio Filmax and co-creator of its influential Fantastic Factory, died on November 17, 2025, in Miami. He was 78. Born in rural Galicia, Fernández played a key role in advancing Spain's genre film and animation industries decades ahead of mainstream trends.
Background and Early Career
Born in A Fonsagrada, in the province of Lugo, Galicia, Fernández emigrated to Spain's growing cities like many from his region but pursued ambitious ventures. In 1987, he acquired Filmax, originally a 1960s Paramount library movie distributor focused on video. Along with his younger brother Carlos, he shifted the company toward theatrical distribution, achieving success with films like 'The Fourth Consul.' This momentum led Filmax into production, always targeting international markets. A breakthrough came in 1999 with Jaume Balagueró’s 'Nameless,' which saw strong sales at Mifed and marked the end of a golden era for Spanish auteur genre films.
Launch of Fantastic Factory and Key Productions
In 2000, Fernández partnered with Brian Yuzna to launch the Fantastic Factory, a bold initiative producing English-language horror films in Spain that blended international and local talent with meta-aware storytelling reminiscent of 1985's 'Re-Animator.' Early successes included Lionsgate acquiring North American rights to four titles: Jack Sholder’s 'Arachnid,' Stuart Gordon’s 'Dagon,' and Brian Yuzna’s 'Faust: Love of the Damned' and 'Beyond Re-Animator.'
Filmax expanded further in 2001 with Filmax Animation in Galicia, producing the Goya-winning 'El Cid: The Legend.' The studio raised its profile with 'Darkness' (2002, U.S. release 2004), directed by Balagueró and starring Anna Paquin, Lena Olin, Iain Glen, and Giancarlo Giannini, which grossed $34.4 million in U.S. theaters. That same year saw Brad Anderson’s 'The Machinist' starring Christian Bale, now a cult classic. Balagueró and Paco Plaza’s '[REC]' (2007) later ranked No. 11 on Bloody Disgusting’s Top 20 Horror Films of the 2000s.
Later Years and Legacy
In 2010, Carlos Fernández became president, diversifying Filmax into TV with hits like 'Polseres Vermelles' ('The Red Band Society'), remade by Fox in the U.S. Julio, a serial entrepreneur in fields from real estate to cured sausages, stepped back for other pursuits. His work, including inspiring Guillermo del Toro’s 'Pan’s Labyrinth' shot in Spain, solidified Spain’s modern genre film industry.