University Programs

The university offers a range of programs for students, including undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

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

• Long and short programs to retrain or specialize in audiovisual professions.

Specific Programs

• ESRA Junior: 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 utilizes the Parcoursup platform for key dates.

Accessibility

The university provides accessibility, furnishings, and personalized support.

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 organizing international relations.

Partnerships

The university prioritizes partnerships and provides opportunities for students.

ERASMUS

The university participates in the ERASMUS+ strategy, with a strategy statement, accreditations, and incoming and outgoing mobility programs.

News

The university publishes news, including school news, events, masterclasses, screenings, and alumni news.

Campus

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

Students and Alumni

The university supports students and alumni, with resources for student films, associations, and alumni careers.

The School

The university provides information on its history, management team, commitments, partnerships, and careers.

DJI Ronin 4D Training

The university offers a DJI Ronin 4D training program, with a presentation, target audience, skills developed, training objectives, and teaching methods.

Program Details

• Schedule: 7 hours/day, in-person.
• Total duration: 8 days (56 hours of programs).
• Maximum capacity: 6 trainees.
• Training fee: 4,480 including tax.
• Location: ESRA Paris Campus.

Target Audience and Prerequisites

• Target audience: Chief operators, camera assistants, directors, chief machinists, and more generally anyone with significant experience in using cameras.
• Prerequisites: Mastery of basic camera concepts and regular practice of shooting in a professional environment.

Skills Developed

• Integration of the various shooting tools offered by the Ronin 4D.
• Management of recording formats and color profiles.
• Using the LiDAR system for focusing.
• Ability to test and compare different settings in real-world conditions.

Training Objectives

1. Master the advanced features of the Ronin 4D.
2. Understanding and using the LiDAR system for focusing.
3. Optimize image and sound workflows.
4. Handle a complete kit with DJI accessories.
5. Take smooth, creative shots in professional conditions.

Teaching Methods

• 100% face-to-face training.
• Alternating theoretical classes and practical exercises.

Terms and Conditions of Access

• Admission steps: information and positioning, application form, admission interview, and admission decision.
• Registration is possible up to 7 days before the start of the session, subject to availability and depending on the method of financing.

Validation and Evaluation

• ESRA certificate of participation at the end of the training course.
• Practical exam at the end of the session to validate the skills acquired.

Career Opportunities and Sectors of Activity

• Cinematographer / Director of photography.
• Specialized Camera Operator.

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