A proven track record, a well-established school
This is an honor that resonates far beyond the walls of a festival. Victor Ruprich-Robert, a 2020 graduate of ESRA Brussels with a degree in Film, won the Grand Prize in the national competition at the 2026 Brussels Short Film Festival. This award crowns several years of hard work, high standards, and artistic commitment, and concretely illustrates what ESRA has been striving to build for over forty years: filmmakers capable of making their mark on the professional scene.
The Brussels Short Film Festival, a must-see event for European short films
The Brussels Short Film Festival is one of the most important events in the industry in Belgium and Europe. Every year, it brings together filmmakers from across the French-speaking world and beyond, offering a rare platform for young cinematic talent to gain visibility. Winning the Grand Prix in the national competition is no small feat: it is an accolade that opens doors, attracts the attention of producers, broadcasters, and programmers, and sets a filmmaker on a fast-track career path.
The fact that Victor Ruprich-Robert has reached this milestone six years after earning his degree ESRA Brussels speaks volumes about the depth and strength of the education he received. Cinema isn’t something that can be created overnight. It is built layer by layer, through projects, mistakes, encounters, and film shoots. ESRA is deeply convinced of this.
ESRA Brussels: A film school grounded in the realities of the industry
Every year, ESRA Brussels welcomes students passionate about cinema to a city that holds a unique place in the European audiovisual landscape. Brussels, a cultural hub and home to numerous European institutions, offers a particularly rich environment for aspiring filmmakers to express themselves and showcase their work.
The Film program at ESRA Brussels is based on a proven educational approach shared with the campuses in Paris, Nice/Cannes, and Rennes: immediate immersion in professional practices, access to industry-standard equipment, and mentorship from professionals currently working in the field. Students undertake projects starting in their first years of study, thereby building a portfolio of tangible work well before graduation.
It is precisely this combination of rigorous training and high artistic standards that enables graduates like Victor Ruprich-Robert to distinguish themselves over the long term in their careers.
A vibrant and engaged alumni network
Victor Ruprich-Robert’s success is not an isolated case. It is part of a broader trend: that of an active alumni network, in which former ESRA students continue to move forward, create, and collaborate. From festivals in France and Belgium to international events, ESRA graduates are present on numerous stages where independent cinema is being shaped and championed.
This network is a valuable resource for both current students and graduates looking to develop their projects. It builds bridges between graduating classes, campuses, and disciplines, as ESRA trains not only filmmakers but also sound engineers, animators, editors, and cinematographers. Together, these professionals form the film crews of tomorrow.
What this award says about the ESRA program
When a graduate wins a Grand Prize at a festival of this caliber, it validates the entire educational process. The technical skills, of course: mastery of the camera, sound, editing, and screenwriting. But also something less quantifiable: the vision, the sensitivity, the ability to craft a visual narrative that holds up before a demanding professional jury.
ESRA trains skilled technicians. But above all, it seeks to train filmmakers: people capable of articulating a point of view, defending artistic choices, and adapting to production constraints without compromising on what matters most. The award Victor received at the 2026 Brussels Short Film Festival is just one example among many—and one that truly counts.
Join ESRA: Shaping Today’s Perspective for Tomorrow’s Cinema
If Victor Ruprich-Robert’s story resonates with you, if you believe that filmmaking is more than just a passion—that it is a profession that can be learned, honed, and built—ESRA welcomes you to its four campuses in France and Belgium.
The Programs cover the full range of fields in film and sound: Film, Sound, and Animation, with bachelor’s and master’s degree tracks. The Open House events provide an opportunity to meet the faculty, tour the facilities, and gain a better understanding of what it’s really like to study at ESRA.
Congratulations to Victor on this well-deserved achievement. We look forward to seeing you soon at one of our campuses.
