Ranked No. 1 among private schools in the
, according to the 2026 Le Figaro Étudiant rankings
+15.000 alumni
in the industry
degree
state-approved
+55 International awards
, César, Oscar, Grammy
Ranked No. 1 among private schools in the
, according to the 2026 Le Figaro Étudiant rankings
+15 000 alumni
in the industry
degree
state-approved
+55 International awards
, César, Oscar, Grammy
Program Presentation
The Département des Hautes Études de Cinéma (DHEC) offers a two-year course in Screenwriting & Directing. This comprehensive and demanding training program combines theory, practical workshops and production.
With a program of over 700 hours per year, this course teaches the full range of writing skills, whether for feature films, TV series, unitaries or short formats, as well as directing, with practical workshops on camera and directing.
DHEC Script & Directing students produce the films of DHEC Production students in collaboration with technical teams from ESRA and ESRA Sound.
The program delivers a state-recognized Bac+5 postgraduate degree , certified by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
A teaching staff made up of award-winning authors
This year's course sponsor is :
Stéphane Brizé, screenwriter and director (The Measure of a Man, At War!, Mademoiselle Chambon, A Few Hours of Spring) – 3 selections at the Cannes Film Festival.
The teaching staff for this course is made up of high-level professionals, including :
Join us!
Michael Gabrion
Producer at Gaumont TV
Aude-Léa RAPIN
Writer and director (Planète B with Adèle Exarchopoulos, released in 2024)
Eric Driutti
Head of script project development at TF1
François DECODTS
Scriptwriter: Je suis un soldat
Carole Wrona
Director of the ARTE documentaries "La nuit est à elles" and "Des femmes aux salons - Aux sources de l'émancipation féminine" and Doctor of Cinematographic and Audiovisual Research (Paris III).
Jean-Paul CIVEYRAC
Director of Une femme de notre temps, Mes provinciales, Des filles en noir, Toutes ces belles promesses, Fantômes etc.
Program highlights
Each year, students produce a minimum of two projects, each stage of which is supervised by a professional (writing, shooting, post-production, and screening before a jury).
With increasing difficulty, these productions culminate in the third year with shoots under professional conditions.
A teaching staff drawn from the professional world
Working screenwriters and directors
Screenwriting
In-depth study of writing techniques for film and series: structure, dramaturgy, dialogue, character development and creation of narrative universes.
Directing
Learn methods of directing, directing actors, technical breakdown and stage management
Introduction to post-production
Editing, calibration and finishing
Shooting with professional equipment
The films are shot in collaboration with ESRA students, enabling the use of top-of-the-range cameras such as the ARRI 35 and 7.1 sound mixing.
Introduction to scenario and AI analysis tools
Discovery module on AI tools
The journey of a feature film
Each year, the students take part in a module exclusive to ESRA's MFA Filmmaking : a year-long meeting with the various department supervisors for a film shot in the summer, accompanying the entire post-production process right up to its theatrical release at the end of the year.
This year, we'll be focusing on Stéphane Brizé's UN BON PETIT SOLDAT, which finished shooting on July 17, 2025, starring Vincent Lindon and Alba Rohrwacher.
By the end of the program
You will be able to:
Writing original screenplays for film, television or digital platforms
Designing and directing feature films from A to Z, from initial idea to post-production
Directing actors and a technical crew on a film set
Working as a writer, director, showrunner or writer-director in the audiovisual industry
Why choose ESRA DHEC Scénario Réal?
Le Figaro Étudiant ranked ESRA as the top private school in 2026 for the second consecutive year in an independent ranking, reflecting our graduates’ strong employment rate, their recognition within the industry, and the quality of our facilities and faculty.
Exceptional insertion rate
85% of graduates employed one year after graduation
Student film
purchased
by TF1!
A campus combining
all audiovisual professions Film, Sound and Animation
business events
for students all year round!
Request brochure DHEC Scenario Realization
Discover the school in detail: the program, the campuses, the facilities and the careers of those who have chosen it.
Further study
Since 2008, ESRA has been offering its students and international students the opportunity to pursue an optional 4ᵉ year in New York, in partnership with Stonestreet Studios, right in the heart of Manhattan.
Pursue an optional 4th year in New York, in the heart of Manhattan.
What Happens After ESRA?
Our alumni collaborate with companies such as Gaumont, Pathé, Canal+, Netflix, TF1, FTV, RMC, BFM, WEBEDIA, TRANSPAMEDIA, as well as independent studios and productions.
Join 25% of our students: become a scholarship holder
Studying at ESRA means accessing an outstanding education in the fields of filmmaking, sound, and 3D animation. And it's also possible without financial obstacles.
ESRA offers scholarships and payment plans in partnership with the school and affiliated banks.
Contact us to learn more about financial aid.
A campus in the heart of Paris
Located between the Eiffel Tower and Lourmel, the ESRA Paris campus offers more than 3,000 m² entirely dedicated to film, sound, animation and video game professions.
Alumni testimonials
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
★★★★★
These years at ISTS have been an exciting immersion. We collaborated, learned, and shared powerful moments. Thank you to everyone I worked with. I found more than just classmates; I found true friends. I am proud of this collective journey.
Mathias Baillou
ISTS Rennes – Cinema
★★★★★
Thanks to you, I have grown. I understood who I am. Understood what I wanted to be. All of this allowed me to write my film, "Cette Nuit à Offeu," which would be nothing today without the prodigious advice of some, and the immense will that you all demonstrated during its selection.
François Gaudière
Master Screenwriting/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
★★★★★
With great emotion, I remember myself in the first year at ESRA, working on my first projects and meeting such talented people. The student union also contributed so much to us. Thank you to the entire teaching team who always supported my professional project and to all the people who pushed me to be better.
Laurie Cauffet
ESRA 2021 – TV Directing
★★★★★
Student films
JERKY FLOW
WINTER ALLEGRO
Resilience
The Last Curse
Phillie's Dinner
And After
FRD
jobs and career opportunities
85% of DHEC Screenwriting and Directing graduates are employed in the audiovisual industry one year after graduation. Here are just a few examples of the jobs available:
Do you have any 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. This diploma is equivalent to a bachelor's degree.
How do I join ESRA?
You must submit an application on the platform esra.edu/je-candidatefill 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. This is one of the school's strong points.
Who are ESRA'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.