Ranked No. 1 among private schools in the 2026 Le Figaro rankings:
+15.000 alumni
in the industry
4 State-recognized Degrees
+55 International awards
, César, Oscar, Grammy
#1 Private School
Le Figaro Ranking 2025
+15.000 alumni
in the industry
4 State-recognized Degrees
+55 International awards
, César, Oscar, Grammy
Our Programs
ESRA offers Programs that deliver state-recognized degrees at Bachelor (Bac+3) and PostGraduate (Bac+5) levels.
Producer, Director, Editor
Audiovisual, Sound Systems, Music,
Radio, Video Games
Animation, 3D Compositing & VFX, Management & Production, Modeling
Featured News
CÉSAR 2026: ESRA talent at the top of French cinema
ESRA: France's leading film school
Founded in 1972, ESRA's mission is to train students for careers in film, audiovisual, sound, and animated film. With over 15,000 successful alumni, the school has established itself as the leading film school in France.
*First private school
Professionals recommend ESRA
We are very pleased that ESRA is the first ARRI Certified School in France. It is an honor and a satisfaction to know that students will have access to advanced knowledge and technologies, actually used in the field by professionals, to best enter the world of cinema.
Natasza Chroscicki
ESRA 2021 – Managing Director, ARRI France
★★★★★
ESRA stands out for the quality of its animation training, which brilliantly prepares tomorrow's talents for the creative challenges of the cartoon world. We are delighted to welcome these passionate and talented young graduates to our productions.
Bravo to ESRA for its commitment to future creators!
Julien Borde
Mediawan Kids&Family - Miraculous Lady Bug
★★★★★
As a producer, I know how essential it is to master the artistic and technical language. At ESRA, students acquire the rigor and creativity that make them true professionals ready to face the challenges of the industry.
Vanessa Djian
Producer(Edmond, Des Jours Meilleurs)
★★★★★
Exchanging with ESRA is always a real pleasure. The care taken to stay in tune with the evolutions of the sector and the expectations of professionals demonstrates a genuine seriousness and a strong grounding in the reality of the industry. This constant concern for dialogue and adaptation makes ESRA a school resolutely focused on the future.
Tarafa Sahloul
Founder, Kid Katana Record
★★★★★
FICAM greatly appreciates ESRA's welcome openness to the world of technical service companies, enabling it to build lasting bridges between the school and the professional world, with a common goal: to welcome into our companies young professionals who are passionate, competent and fully aware of developments in the sector in which they will be working.
Stéphane Bedin
Deputy Director, FICAM
★★★★★
ESRA is one of the educational pillars of our sector. The quality of its teaching, both theoretical and practical, its reflections on market developments, and its focus on new technologies and the future make it an essential player.
Serge Hayat
Author and entrepreneur in the media
★★★★★
VFX ► Video Production ► ESRA ► Sound & Music
⏸ Cinema ► Animation ⏯︎ 3D ◼ Post-Production
Our Campuses
4 campuses in Paris, Nice & Cannes, Rennes and Brussels, covering all cinema and audiovisual professions
Our upcoming events
Our news
Figaro Student
ESRA, France's top post-baccalaureate film school in the 2026 ranking of the best film schools
Jan Belletti (ESRA 2003): From School to the Set—How ESRA Launched My Career in the Audiovisual Industry
Jan Belletti, co-founder of Sixtine Groupe and a former ESRA student (class of 2003), shares what the program has given him: market insight, a professional network, and concrete projects. Learn more about his journey. From passion to career: Jan’s story...
ESRA Brussels 2026 Professional Jury
The 2026 ESRA Brussels Graduation Film Professional Jury met in a prestigious setting at the CINEMATEK – Royal Belgian Film Archive, bringing together students, industry professionals, and jury members for a day dedicated to...
THE SAUDI INDEPENDENT CINEMA SALON
The Saudi Independent Cinema Salon (SICS) is a curatorial platform dedicated to contemporary Saudi auteur cinema. Founded by filmmaker and visual artist Gigi Hozimah, the Salon brings together film, visual arts, and conversation...
They're talking about us
★★★★★
Testimonials
Excerpts from speeches by our recent graduates
The encounters, the projects, the passionate lecturers... ISTS gave me much more than skills: it gave me a real vision of the profession. I'd like to thank the lecturers for sharing their experience, and the passionate teachers for their high standards and kindness. ISTS has had a profound effect on me. This is just the beginning of the adventure.
Julian Ranaivo
ISTS 2024 – Music Recording
★★★★★
The school allowed me to familiarize myself with professional equipment that is difficult to access outside of a specialized environment. I benefited from both theoretical and practical instruction, supervised by professors and speakers from the industry, in conditions close to the professional world. This training also offered me the opportunity to explore different audiovisual professions, which helped me refine my career choices.
Nathan Hourbeigt
ESRA 2024 – TV Directing
★★★★★
Three years rich in human and professional experience. I had the chance to work with wonderful people and to be well supported. We experienced a real group adventure, with intense projects. Thank you to ESRA and to all those who crossed my path.
Emilien Le Labourier
ESRA 2024 – Image
★★★★★
Thank you to this incredible graduating class, to Jennifer, to Mr. Bonnot, and to the teachers for their support. We grew together throughout this adventure. I am proud of what we have accomplished. I hope we will meet again in the future, united by our shared passion.
Léa Hue
ESRA 2024 – Film Directing
★★★★★
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. It was an experience that taught me how to manage my career as a live TV producer, and how to manage a team of 80 people.
Maxence Carion
ESRA TV – Director
★★★★★
ESRA is, above all, about encounters, people who lent me a hand and helped me carry LED panels! It's quite curious to think that chance encounters shape a destiny, especially when you have a taste for cinema and doing things well. I found my path thanks to ESRA.
Romain Guimmara
ESRA 2021 – Image Option
★★★★★
We answer all your questions
Are ESRA diplomas recognized by the French government?
Yes, all the initial Programs offered by ESRA are recognized by the French Ministry of Education and Research at Bac+3 level for ESRA Cinéma, ESRA Son and ESRA Animation, and at Bac+5 level for DHEC Scénario & Réalisation and DHEC Production.
How do I get into the school?
You must submit an application on the platform esra.edu/candidaturefill 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 school 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 on campus?
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. This is one of the school's strong points.
Who are the school's alumni?
Over 15,000 audiovisual professionals have graduated from ESRA since its creation in 1972. Check out our alumni page to discover some of our most memorable achievements, including 47 César nominations, an Oscar win, two Grammy Awards, selections at the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival, song production for Daft Punk, Beyonce, A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar, Big Flo et Oli and Orelsan, VFX and animation on some of the world's biggest films, and many other professional and public accolades.