On October 17, 2026, ESRA inaugurated the Hebust Paris Film Institute (HPFI) in China: 150 students trained in film, sound, and animation.
ESRA Opens the HPFI in China, the First Franco-Chinese Film School
On Saturday, October 17, 2026, ESRA inaugurated the Hebust Paris Film Institute (HPFI), a film and audiovisual institute established within Hebei University of Science and Technology (HEBUST) in Shijiazhuang, near Beijing. Recognized by the Chinese Ministry of Education, the HPFI is the first Franco-Chinese film school. Its first graduating class consists of 150 students, divided among ESRA’s three traditional programs: film, sound, and animation.
What is the Hebust Paris Film Institute (HPFI)?
The HPFI is a Franco-Chinese cooperative institute located on the campus of HEBUST, a university founded in 1956 that enrolls more than 28,000 students and ranks among the top 300 universities in the country. The project, announced in the spring of 2026 (read the partnership announcement), has received approval from the Chinese Ministry of Education. It is currently the only officially recognized Franco-Chinese film school.
Chinese students at HPFI take ESRA courses—taught on site by French instructors—alongside intensive English language instruction. The goal is to train a new generation of Chinese technicians and artists who are bilingual and open to French and European productions.
A bridge between two worlds of cinema
The HPFI builds on the partnership established in 2023 between ESRA and the Beijing Film Academy, China’s most prestigious film school. It complements ESRA’s international strategy, which already includes a presence in Brussels and New York.
“China has a deep and rich culture of film and animation. Its stories, films, and music are everywhere in China, but they haven’t yet reached Europe. I am convinced that this will change over the next 20 years. These students will help foster these exchanges.”
David Azoulay, President of ESRA
New facilities dedicated to film, sound, and animation
The HPFI is located in a building that was completely renovated in 2026 and is equipped just like the ESRA campuses:
• two screening rooms with 180 and 80 seats;
• a new motion capture studio;
• a set and a multi-camera TV control room;
• several sound studios, including a Dolby Atmos-certified mixing studio.
How do I join the HPFI?
Chinese students are selected based on the gaokao, the Chinese equivalent of the high school graduation exam, and then take an entrance exam. The first graduating class consists of 150 students studying film, sound, and animation.
For French and international students, ESRA offers its “ Programs ” in Paris, Nice, Cannes, Rennes, Brussels, and New York. Find all the information on admission requirements and upcoming open house events.
An Official Inauguration in the Heart of Hebei
The ceremony took place on October 17, 2026, in the presence of HEBUST President Li Tiejun, the university’s Vice President, Mr. Zhao Geng, the University Dean, Ms. Zhang Xiaoyan, the program director, Mr. Meng Bin, the Director of International Relations at HEBUST, Ms. Yan Cuiying, the Director of ESRA Hebei, Ms. Liu Ying, as well as David Azoulay, President of ESRA, and Benjamin Azoulay, Vice President of ESRA.
With a population of over 70 million, Hebei Province surrounds Beijing, one of China’s major cultural and audiovisual hubs. HPFI students will have the opportunity to meet professionals there, explore production facilities, and gain firsthand experience of the realities of their future careers.
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