Published: March 9, 2026
École Nationale Supérieure Louis-Lumière (Louis Lumière National School)
Paris/Saint-Denis, France
France’s oldest film school (founded 1926), specializing in technical crafts: cinematography, sound engineering, and photography. Produces skilled craftspeople, not generalist filmmakers.
Quick facts
Postgraduate 3-year diploma programs
Three departments: Film (Cinematography), Photography, and Sound Engineering
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION: FRENCH
Tuition: approximately €300-500 per year (one of Europe’s most affordable)
Very small cohorts: 16 students per department per year
What this school is known for
Louis Lumière trains technical specialists in cinematography, sound, and photography rather than directors. Graduates become working cinematographers, sound engineers, and photographers in the film and advertising industries. The school has a reputation for precision and professional craftsmanship.
Programs offered
Three-year postgraduate diplomas: Cinema (Cinematography), Photography, and Sound Engineering. Each program is focused and specialized, not a general filmmaking course.
Teaching approach
Highly technical and hands-on. Heavy emphasis on craft and professional standards. Students learn film history but primarily through the lens of their specialty (cinematography, sound, or photography). Small class sizes allow individual mentoring.
Equipment and facilities
Two 230 sqm film studios with professional lighting and green screen. Edit suites: 6 image editing rooms, 16 VFX stations, 3 colour calibration stations, 1 DCP mastering station. Sound: 6 editing rooms, 1 cinema mixing auditorium with THX and 5.1 Dolby. Photography: dedicated retouching and printing labs. Extensive camera equipment from 16mm to digital.
Industry connections
Claire Mathon (cinematographer, Portrait of a Young Woman on Fire; won César award)
Jeanne Delplancq (sound engineer, Adolescente; César award winner)
Nadège Abadie (photographer)
Samuel Bollendorff (photographer and documentarian)
Many more cinematographers and sound engineers working on major French and international productions
Admissions
Highly competitive. Requires minimum 120 ECTS (roughly 2 years of university) for EU candidates; 2 years for non-EU. Must be under age 27 at exam time. Competitive entrance exam in March (written) followed by interview in May/June. Very selective: only 16 students admitted per department per year.
Cost
Tuition: approximately €300-500 per year plus insurance (~€200/year). Extremely affordable for a prestigious technical school. Government-funded.
For visiting and exchange students
Limited exchange options. Note: School relocated in 2024 due to Paris Olympics; not accepting visiting students during relocation period. Will return to premises in January 2025. Contact directly for current exchange availability.
Who this school is best for
Only for students with French language ability who are certain they want to specialize in cinematography, sound, or photography rather than general filmmaking. Not for students seeking broad film training.
