Woody Allen is taking his next film to Madrid, with production set to begin on October 5 and WestEnd Films joining Daresay to handle international sales. The untitled contemporary comedy will be Allen’s 51st feature as a director and will star Alexi Wasser, Jemima Kirke, Peter Vives, Marton Csokas and Jakob Oftebro. The project is being produced by Wanda Visión, Gravier Productions and 3Six9 Studios, with Madrid serving as its main setting and the final title required to include the city’s name.
Madrid is more than a backdrop for the film. Allen has said the story needed a diplomatic atmosphere and that Madrid’s beauty, elegance and urban character made it a natural fit. Principal photography will take place across the city and the wider Madrid region, including Aranjuez, with several recognizable locations expected to feature prominently. The production also gives Madrid a direct role in the film’s international identity, turning the Spanish capital into an important part of the story rather than simply a shooting location.
The choice also extends Allen’s long relationship with Spain. He previously filmed Vicky Cristina Barcelona in Barcelona and surrounding locations, followed by Rifkin’s Festival in San Sebastián. Vicky Cristina Barcelona became one of his best-known European productions, while Rifkin’s Festival continued his interest in building stories around distinctive Spanish cities. Madrid therefore becomes the third Spanish setting for one of Allen’s feature productions and the first time he has made the capital the central location of a film.
The Madrid connection is also tied to substantial local support. The Community of Madrid and Madrid City Council are each contributing €1.5 million, bringing institutional support to €3 million. Industry reports put the production’s overall budget at roughly €12 million, meaning the public contribution represents about one-quarter of that estimated figure. The agreement also requires the finished film to feature Madrid in its title and to show recognizable parts of the region.
The international sales partnership adds another important layer. WestEnd Films, a London-based international sales and production company, has boarded the project alongside Daresay. Its role is to take the film to buyers in overseas territories, helping establish distribution arrangements before the movie is completed. WestEnd Films’ catalogue includes films such as The Breadwinner, Green Room and Tatami, giving the Allen project a sales company with an established international network.
The cast brings together performers from different markets. Alexi Wasser and Jemima Kirke lead the ensemble, with Kirke known for Girls and Sex Education. Peter Vives represents the Spanish side of the cast, while Marton Csokas and Jakob Oftebro add internationally familiar faces. The production also has a strong Spanish creative presence, including cinematographer José Luis Alcaine and costume designer Sonia Grande, who has previously worked with Allen.
The film is being made in English and currently has no announced final title or release date. Allen traditionally keeps his titles close to the production until the film is finished, but the Madrid requirement is already confirmed. The shoot is expected to make extensive use of central Madrid locations, while the wider region will also appear on screen.
The production is also expected to employ a largely Spanish crew, strengthening the local character of the project behind the camera as well as in front of it. That combination gives the film a distinctly Madrid-centered identity internationally, with the city playing a role in both the film’s setting and its production framework.
The local investment further connects the project to Madrid beyond its use as a filming location. With the Community of Madrid and Madrid City Council each contributing €1.5 million, the city and regional authorities are directly supporting the production. The agreement’s requirement that Madrid appear in the film’s title and that recognizable parts of the region feature on screen further reinforces the connection between the production and its principal setting.
The project also continues Allen’s pattern of working with European locations as central elements of his films. After Barcelona and San Sebastián, Madrid becomes another Spanish city around which one of his features is being constructed. In this case, however, the Spanish capital is not simply one of several locations but the principal setting, with the production expected to showcase recognizable areas of Madrid and the wider region.
For Allen, the project marks another chapter in a filmmaking career built around cities, relationships and European settings. For Madrid, it brings an internationally recognized director and a film designed to showcase the city to audiences beyond Spain. With filming beginning this week and global sales now underway, the project is moving from development into production with both its creative team and international distribution strategy taking shape.
