University Programs

The university offers a range of programs for students interested in film, audiovisual, sound, and animation.

Undergraduate Programs

• ESRA Cinema: a 3-year Bachelor's degree granting diploma in film and television.
• ESRA Sound: a 3-year Bachelor's degree granting program in sound, music, film, and video games, radio, and sound for events.
• ESRA Animation: a 3-year Bachelor's degree granting program in 3D animation.
• Bachelor Filmmaking: a 3-year Bachelor's degree granting diploma in film and television.

Post Bachelor's Degree +3

• DHEC Screenwriting and Directing: a 2-year diploma course in writing and directing for film and television.
• DHEC Production and Distribution: a 2-year diploma course in film production and distribution.
• MFA Filmmaking: a 2-year MFA degree granting program in writing and directing for film and television.
• ESRA New York: a 1-year training course in English for film and sound professions.

Professional Programs

• Professional Programs: long and short programs to retrain or specialize in audiovisual professions.
• Specific Programs: introductory audiovisual workshops for high school students in July.

Admissions

Admission Process

The admission process includes competitions, pre-admissions, admissions, and parallel admissions.

Degrees & Parcoursup

The university offers diplomas, and the Parcoursup platform is used for admissions.

Accessibility

The university provides accessibility, furnishings, and personalized support for students.

Scholarships and Mobility

The university offers funding and scholarships, including scholarship applications, financing solutions, and testimonials from scholarship recipients.

International

Internationalization

The university has an internationalization strategy and guidelines for international relations.

Partnerships

The university has partnerships with other institutions and organizations.

ERASMUS

The university participates in the ERASMUS program, which provides opportunities for student mobility and exchange.

News

School News

The university publishes news and updates about school events, masterclasses, screenings, and alumni achievements.

Events

The university hosts various events, including open houses, trade fairs, masterclasses, and screenings.

Campus

ESRA Campuses

The university has campuses in Paris, Côte d'Azur, Brittany, Brussels, and New York.

Students and Alumni

Students

The university provides resources and support for students, including student films, associations, and activities.

Alumni

The university has a network of alumni who have achieved success in the film and audiovisual industry.

The School

History

The university has a history of providing high-quality education in film, audiovisual, sound, and animation.

Commitments

The university is committed to inclusion, diversity, ecology, CSR, ethics, and quality charter.

Partnerships

The university has partnerships with companies and organizations in the film and audiovisual industry.

Careers

The university provides career opportunities and resources for students and alumni.

Shooting Operator Program

Program Presentation

The Shooting Operator program is a vocational training program that provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to work as a camera operator in the film and audiovisual industry.

Target Audience and Prerequisites

The program is designed for individuals who want to pursue a career as a camera operator, with a bachelor's degree or equivalent, or at least one year of experience in the audiovisual or film industry.

Skills Developed

The program consists of three blocks of skills: preparing the audiovisual or film project, bringing the project to fruition, and post-producing the project.

Training Objectives

The program aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to master filming equipment and post-production software, acquire framing, lighting, and sound recording techniques, and collaborate effectively with a technical and artistic team.

Training Program

The program includes a range of modules, including meeting with an image professional, audiovisual and image-related professions, network/professional project/industry monitoring, and audiovisual productions and new media.

Teaching Methods

The program uses a range of teaching methods, including theoretical classes, practical exercises, and professional scenarios.

Assessment and Certification Procedures

The program uses a range of assessment methods, including professional scenarios and certification exams, to evaluate student learning and award the "Camera Operator" certification.

Career Opportunities and Sectors of Activity

The program provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to work as a camera operator in the film and audiovisual industry, with career opportunities in areas such as film, television, advertising, and streaming.

Financing Options

The university offers a range of financing options, including the Compte Personnel de Formation (CPF), AFDAS, Pôle emploi, and personal financing.

Contact

For more information about the university's programs and financing options, please contact the admissions team.

Overview:

ESRA (École Supérieure de Réalisation Audiovisuelle) is France's leading private film and audiovisual school, founded in 1972. Ranked number one among film schools recommended by industry professionals according to the Figaro 2025 ranking, ESRA has spent over 50 years training the talent behind France's most recognized film, television, sound and animation productions.

ESRA is a family-run institution led by the Azoulay family across three generations, with a long-term commitment to each cohort of students. The school continuously adapts its curriculum to keep pace with industry evolutions, including the growing impact of artificial intelligence on production workflows.

Alumni track record

More than 15,000 audiovisual professionals have graduated from ESRA since 1972. The alumni network includes over 55 César nominations, 1 Oscar, 2 Grammy Awards, and selections at the Festival de Cannes and the Venice Film Festival (Mostra). ESRA alumni have worked on productions for Canal+, Arte and TF1, contributed sound work on recordings by Daft Punk, Beyoncé, A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar and Orelsan, and produced VFX and animation for major international productions.

Accreditation and recognition

All initial training programs at ESRA are recognized by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research. Undergraduate programs are validated at Bac+3 level (equivalent to a Bachelor's degree), and master's-level programs at Bac+5. ESRA holds Qualiopi certification for all professional training courses. The school is also part of the Erasmus+ program and its international programs are recognized by the People's Republic of China.

ESRA is the first ARRI-certified school in France, meaning students train on the same professional camera systems used on actual productions worldwide.

Campuses

ESRA operates across five campuses in France and Europe, each fully equipped with professional-grade production and post-production facilities:

• Paris: in the heart of the French capital
• Côte d'Azur: between Nice and Cannes, at the heart of the southern French film industry
• Bretagne: in Rennes, in a dynamic regional creative hub
• Bruxelles: in the European capital, under the Brussels campus
• New York: in Manhattan, offering English-language film and sound programs

Every campus is equipped with multi-station post-production suites, a professional camera inventory including Sony FS7, Sony F55 and ARRI ALEXA 35 cameras, recording equipment, microphones, portable computers, and the latest versions of industry-standard software for cinema, sound and animation.

Three fields of specialization

• Cinema and television: directing, producing, editing
• Sound and music: audiovisual sound, live sound reinforcement, music recording, radio and video game audio
• 3D animation: animation, compositing, VFX, modeling, and production management for film and television

International reach

Since 2019, ESRA has offered English-language programs open to students from around the world. These programs carry State recognition and are equivalent to a Bachelor's degree in countries including the United States, Australia and across Europe. Notable international partnerships include collaboration with MBC Group (a major Middle Eastern media group) to train young Saudi professionals, a partnership with Parsons The New School for Design since 2022, and an official partnership with the Beijing Film Academy formalized in November 2024.

Commitments and values

• Inclusion and equal opportunity: 25% of students receive bursaries each year, supported by an active scholarship policy worth over 100,000 euros annually; students are also eligible for CROUS grants and housing aid
• Gender parity and diversity: ESRA supports the Collectif 50/50 for gender parity in the audiovisual industry and Divé+, an association founded by alumni to promote diversity on screen and behind the camera
• Ecology: ESRA is a member of EcoProd, integrates carbon footprint measurement tools into production training, and conducts an annual carbon audit in partnership with Greenly; the school recycles over 400 kg of waste per year through Les Joyeux Recycleurs
• Social engagement: since 2017, students have made films with children in care homes, with screenings held at the Grand Rex in Paris
• Quality and ethics: Qualiopi-certified for professional training; signatory of the CPF Ethics Charter in partnership with Les Acteurs de la Compétence

Student life and events

Throughout the academic year, ESRA organizes masterclasses with leading French and international filmmakers, screenings with César-nominated directors, the 48h ESRA filmmaking challenge, a student cinema club, ESRADIO (a student radio station), and an annual student film showcase. Student work has been broadcast on TF1 and screened at international festivals.

Professional training

Beyond initial degree programs, ESRA offers a full range of professional continuing education through its DIXIT department, covering career transitions, software and equipment certification, and advanced specialist training for industry professionals.

Why ESRA

1. France's top-ranked film school by industry professionals, according to the Figaro 2025 ranking
2. State-recognized diplomas at Bac+3 and Bac+5, eligible for CROUS grants and housing support
3. The only ARRI-certified school in France, with professional-grade equipment on every campus
4. A network of over 15,000 alumni active across film, television, music, animation and VFX
5. Five campuses in France and Europe, plus a New York campus in Manhattan
6. Programs in both French and English, with international recognition including China
7. A family-run institution with a 50-year track record of adapting to industry change