National identity and international audiences: The case of Spanish science fiction cinema

Science-fiction film is not among the most produced genres in Spain. However, in recent decades, some film productions have been released related to the science-fiction genre, which have tried to be internationally competitive in order to achieve economic success. This article will analyse the case of Automata (2014), a film by Spanish director, Gabe Ibáñez, in the context of both Spanish and European science-fiction cinema. Its industrial strategies will be examined to highlight how Spanish science-fiction productions need to be international products to be competitive. In addition, Automata will be compared with other Spanish films, evaluating factors such as budget, box office earnings, locations, cast composition and other cultural elements. Thus, the diverse strategies carried out by producers of science-fiction films in Spain will be considered, as well as their different degrees of commercial success.