ARTFX launches its training courses: special effects, animation & video games

An ideal location at the crossroads of Europe

Ideally situated in the prestigious Plaine Images district, amongst professional studios from various sectors including the film industry, as well as a start-up incubator, the new ARTFX campus, created to meet the growing demands of studios, builds on the values upheld in Montpellier since 2004. Open to the outside world and working in close synergy with industry stakeholders, the campus is designed to maximise the exceptional momentum offered by its central location at the crossroads of Europe.

“The opening of this new campus is a fundamental milestone in ARTFX’s journey. It gives a real boost to our overall approach to development, innovation and European collaborations, whilst allowing us to preserve our independence. And if this new academic year can now go ahead, and under such favourable conditions despite the current situation, it is thanks to the ARTFX team, who have brought this project to fruition in record time despite such a challenging context, and to the unfailing support, right from the start, of all our regional partners. We would like to thank them all once again.”

explains Gilbert Kiner, President of ARTFX.

An innovative flipped learning approach

Built around workshops led by professionals from around the world, ARTFX’s teaching approach empowers students to take an active role in their own learning. Throughout their course, they develop independence, curiosity, maturity, creativity and technical skills.

In addition to technical skill and creativity, cohesion and teamwork are central to the school’s teaching approach and DNA.

Cutting-edge five-year degree programmes leading to the state-recognised Level 7 RNCP qualification in Digital Film Direction

1. Master’s in New Cinema Technologies

2. Master’s in 3D and 2D Animation

3. Master’s in Visual Effects

4. Master’s in Video Games

5. Master’s in Video Game Programming & Visual Effects

Tuition fees

• Entrance exam: free
• Foundation Year: €5,200
• First Year: €7,100
• Years 2 to 5: €8,100

For Xavier Bertrand, President of the Hauts-de-France Region, the arrival of ARTFX helps to raise the region’s profile:

“The Region has been supporting the development of the visual media sector in Hauts-de-France for several years. It is also building a whole ecosystem that encourages companies in the sector to set up here, and generates jobs and opportunities for young people training in these professions. This project is part of a vision for popular and modern culture – a culture accessible to all that also gives a place to the digital arts. Hauts-de-France is becoming a leading centre of excellence in digital creation and French expertise.”

Damien Castelain, President of the European Metropolis of Lille, also welcomes the arrival of ARTFX in the Lille metropolitan area—and more specifically at Plaine Images—as the result of collective efforts to enhance the region’s appeal:

“The region’s appeal is at the heart of everything we do: when we develop and run a centre of excellence dedicated to the creative industries such as the Plaine Images, it is to fully realise our ambition: to showcase our expertise across Europe. The arrival of an internationally renowned school such as ArtFX enables us both to attract students from all over the world and to raise our profile amongst studios. This is how we intend to strengthen our influence: Hello ArtFX!”

Guillaume Delbar, President of Pictanovo and Mayor of Roubaix, emphasises the beneficial contribution ArtFX makes to the regional and metropolitan ecosystem and the positive message it sends to the talents of tomorrow:

“The creative industries sector is transforming and evolving, and now accounts for a significant share of our region’s economy. Pictanovo, as a centre of excellence for the visual media sector in Hauts-de-France, has been working for over 30 years to shape and enrich the regional ecosystem, which must be competitive and attractive on an international level. Hosting ARTFX here in Roubaix, at the very heart of the regional and metropolitan hub for the audiovisual, film and animation sectors, means offering young people in our region a further opportunity to acquire advanced skills in the fields of special effects, animation and video games – and, why not, to inspire them to start their own businesses.”

Doriane Becue, Mayor of Tourcoing, said:

“The arrival of ARTFX in Tourcoing sends a strong signal for our town. The arrival in a neighbourhood of excellence of a school ranked amongst the best in the world enriches a programme dedicated to digital arts that is highly sought-after by the professional world. Together with the companies at Plaine Images dedicated to the creative industries, a real synergy is emerging here to showcase French expertise in the digital economy. From training to employment, the establishment of ARTFX is an extraordinary opportunity for students, employees, businesses, shopkeepers and residents. ARTFX, welcome to Tourcoing!”

Pierre-Henry Laporterie, appointed last July as head of ARTFX Lille – Plaine Images, is responsible for the school’s teaching and day-to-day running, supported by a team of three dedicated permanent staff and around twenty lecturers and industry professionals, backed by support services based in Montpellier.

About Pierre-Henry Laporterie

Having initially trained in the fine arts, Pierre-Henry Laporterie began his career in the video game industry at Ubisoft and Etranges Libellule between 1998 and 2005.
Over the course of seven years, he held various roles (3D artist, 2D designer and Art Director) on AAA projects. This experience enabled him to gain significant expertise in video game production.

Between 2005 and 2019, his career continued in the field of animated feature films. He worked on various international and national projects for Universal, DreamWorks, Illumination MacGuff, Onanimation, Folivari and others, including Sylvain Chomet’s *The Illusionist*. He worked on the animated storyboards and developed the film’s characters and sets at the studio based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The film was nominated for an Oscar and won a César in 2011. At the same time, Pierre-Henry Laporterie felt a desire to pass on his knowledge. For nearly 10 years, he taught at animation schools such as Les Gobelins, Émile Cohl, Rubika and ESAAT, helping to supervise final-year projects and running concept and design workshops. In 2014, this experience led him to take charge of the academic coordination and roll-out of the ECV school’s Paris campus specialising in animated film. Between 2014 and 2020, he was also responsible for the school’s animation programme at its Lille campus.

Press contacts

ARTFX: Véronique DUMON, Press Officer | +33 6 20 32 01 15 | veronique.d@adalbert-rp.fr
Hauts-de-France Region: Sébastien VOISIN, Communications and Public Relations Department | 03 74 27 48 88 / +33 6 47 67 14 26 | sebastien.voisin@hautsdefrance.fr
Lille European Metropolis: Charlotte ROUSSEL, Press Officer | croussel@lillemetropole.fr | 03 20 21 67 82
Roubaix Town Hall: Cédric GIRARD, Director of Communications and Events | cgirard@ville-roubaix.fr | 03 20 66 46 85
Mayor of Tourcoing: Astrid CHASTAN, Press Officer | achastan@ville-tourcoing.fr | 03 20 23 37 23
EuraCreative: Véronique DESAMAISON, Head of Marketing & Communications | vdesamaison@euracreative.fr
Pictanovo: Marianne BEAREZ, Head of Communications | mbearez@pictanovo.com | 06 37 10 54 43
Lille’s agency: Laura DE MENDONCA, Communications Officer | l.demendonca@lillesagency.com | 06 17 72 61 27