The ESRA’s 2026 Professional Animation Jury honored the graduation films of students from Paris, Rennes, and Nice.
A panel of professionals to review students' animation projects
On July 2, 2026, ESRA held its Professional Animation Jury, an event dedicated to showcasing and promoting films created by animation students from the Paris, Rennes, and Nice campuses.
This event gave students the opportunity to present their work to industry professionals and to have their creations evaluated by an outside perspective that closely reflects the expectations of the animation industry.
For this edition, the jury meeting was attended by CINÉ+ Apollo, director Tiburce, and Fortiche Studio, represented by Mégane Bédué and Ludivine Million, both of whom work in talent acquisition.
A unique opportunity to meet with animation professionals
The Professional Jury is an important milestone in the students’ academic journey. Beyond the screening of their films, this event allows them to present the results of several months of work and to benefit from the insights of practicing professionals.
Screenplay, art direction, asset design, animation, lighting, and sound design: each film draws on a wide range of skills and reflects the collaborative work carried out by the students throughout the production process.
The presence of professionals from various fields within the audiovisual and animation industries also gives students the opportunity to better understand the realities of the sector and the demands they will face in their future careers.
Six awards to recognize students' work
Following the screenings and discussions, six awards were presented to highlight various artistic and technical aspects of the featured productions.
Best Screenplay Award
, Keep Your Eyes Open — ESRA Paris
Best Asset Design Award
: Persistence of Memory — ESRA Rennes
Best Animation Award
, *Catnip* — ESRA Paris
Best Lighting Award
, *Persistence of Memory* — ESRA Rennes
Best Soundtrack Award
, “Allegro” — ESRA Nice
Best Film Award
, *Catnip* — ESRA Paris
With two awards, including Best Film, Catnip stood out in particular at this year's festival. *Persistence of Memory* also received two awards, for its asset design and lighting work.
A Step Toward the Working World
The Professional Animation Jury is fully aligned with ESRA’s commitment to building bridges between education and the professional world.
Presenting a project to an external jury allows students to take a step back and view their work objectively, engage with professionals, and showcase the skills they have developed during their studies. The films they create also serve as important additions to their portfolios as they begin their professional careers.
The 2026 edition thus highlighted the diversity of creative worlds, techniques, and artistic sensibilities developed at ESRA’s various campuses, while celebrating the collaborative effort essential to the creation of an animated film.
