University Programs

The university offers a range of programs in the fields of 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 (M1/M2) in writing and directing for film and television.
• DHEC Production and Distribution: A 2-year diploma course (M1/M2) 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.

Program Details

ESRA Junior

The ESRA Junior internship offers an introduction to film and sound studies through a program that combines theoretical courses with hands-on production projects carried out in teams, under the guidance of ESRA faculty members.

• Two sessions are offered in July at ESRA campuses: Session 1 from June 29 to July 10, and Session 2 from July 20 to 31.
• Open to students in grades 9 through 12.
• Students can choose between two tracks: Film or Sound.

Training Objectives

Participants learn about the key stages of filmmaking and acquire the technical and artistic fundamentals of the profession through theoretical courses and hands-on group projects, under the guidance of ESRA instructors.

• Discover the cinema, audiovisual, and sound professions.
• Understand the different stages involved in creating an audiovisual project.
• Acquire the technical basics of shooting, directing, editing, and sound.
• Develop creativity and learn to work as part of a team on a set.

Program Content

• Week 1: Theory & Lab — 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (morning) / 1:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. (afternoon).
  • Learning the basics: History of cinema, directing, screenwriting, film analysis.
  • Hands-on practice: Camera lab, lighting lab, editing lab.
• Week 2: Filming and Post-production — 10 a.m.–1 p.m. (morning) / 2 p.m.–5 p.m. (afternoon).
  • Shooting the movie: Two days of filming indoors and outdoors.
  • Editing and mixing: Video editing, audio editing, sound effects, final mix.

Admissions

Admission Process

• Competitions, pre-admissions, admissions, and parallel admissions.
• Degrees & Parcoursup: Diplomas, the Parcoursup platform, and key dates.
• Accessibility: Accessibility, furnishings, and personalized support.
• Scholarships and Mobility: Funding and scholarships, scholarship applications, financing solutions, testimonials from scholarship recipients.

The School

Who We Are

• History, the school, and the management team.
• Commitments: Inclusion, diversity, ecology, CSR, ethics, quality charter.
• Partnerships: France 2030, partner companies, and professional recommendations.
• Careers: Apply to ESRA to join the teaching and administrative team.
• Offer an internship: Post your internship or job offers.
• Press: Press releases, articles, reports.

Alumni Testimonials

• One of my fondest memories of ESRA is the equipment available and the fact that I was able to do live TV, which gave me the impression of working for an international channel.
• ESRA is, above all, about encounters, people who lent me a hand and helped me carry LED panels!
• The school allowed me to familiarize myself with professional equipment that is difficult to access outside of a specialized environment.

Student Films

• JERKY FLOW: Adnane Rami - ESRA 2022
• WINTER ALLEGRO: Milo Chiavarino - ESRA 2023
• Resilience: Will Remond - ESRA 2020
• The Last Curse: Tichila Junklin and Lucas Vergne - ANIM 2021
• Phillie's Dinner: Jean-Baptiste Moisy - ESRA NY 2020
• And After: Marine Follonier - ESRA 2020
• FRD: Damien BUCHHEIT, Amélie CALAMY, Bastien HALTER - ANIM 2018

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the ESRA degree recognized by the State?

Yes, all the initial Programs offered by ESRA are recognized by the French Ministry of Education and Research at Bachelor (Bac+3) level for ESRA Filmmaking, ESRA Sound, and ESRA Animation, and at Postgraduate (Bac+5) level for the MFA Filmmaking, DHEC Screenwriting & Directing, and DHEC Production.

How do I join ESRA?

You must submit an application on the platform, fill in the required information, choose your exam date, and take the tests. Admissions committees meet every month. If you are accepted, you can pre-register as early as November.

How much does ESRA cost?

Prices for each course are given in the brochures. ESRA grants over 100,000 euros in scholarships and welcomes over 25% of scholarship holders each year. Students are also eligible for CROUS grants, as the degree is recognized by the French government, and for housing subsidies.

What equipment is available at ESRA?

Each ESRA campus has post-production and multi-station rooms equipped with powerful computers and the latest software, whether for film, sound, or animation. In addition, each campus has an equipment room containing a range of cameras, from HD Nikon and Canon to Sony FS7 and F55, and each school has an ARRI ALEXA 35 camera and numerous camera accessories, monitors, and so on. They also have a wide range of microphones, recorders, plug-ins, and laptops available to students all year round.

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