ARTFX, RANKED AMONG THE WORLD’S BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS SCHOOLS, HAS CHOSEN THE LILLE METROPOLITAN AREA AND THE PLAINE IMAGES SITE AT EURACREATIVE #START OF THE 2020 ACADEMIC YEAR!

“I quickly sensed a genuine desire to make the digital industry the region’s driving force and to support this already mature ecosystem. The Lille metropolitan area’s international positioning at the crossroads of Northern Europe’s major capitals, whilst being just an hour from Paris, also fosters a very interesting intercultural dynamic. Finally, I was looking for a city rich in culture that offers a living environment conducive to my students’ personal development, and that is exactly what I have found here. The Lille metropolitan area is an ideal location for our new centre, and I am delighted about our upcoming opening.”

ARTFX: a valuable addition to the regional and local ecosystem

For Xavier Bertrand, President of the Hauts-de-France Region, the arrival of ARTFX is an additional asset that contributes significantly to the region’s profile:

“For several years now, we have been pursuing a strategy of actively supporting the development of the visual media sector in Hauts-de-France. We are building a whole ecosystem that encourages companies in the sector to set up here, and generates numerous jobs as well as future career opportunities for young people training in these promising professions. Behind this economic strategy, I also wish to champion a particular vision of culture: that of a popular and modern culture, a culture accessible to all and one that also makes room for the digital arts. Hauts-de-France is becoming a leading centre of excellence in digital creation and French expertise, and we can be proud of that.”

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 reputation: Hello ARTFX!”

Guillaume Delbar, President of Pictanovo and Mayor of Roubaix, emphasises ARTFX’s beneficial contribution 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 represents a significant part of our region’s economy. Pictanovo, as the leading organisation in the imaging sector in Hauts-de-France, has been committed for over 30 years to shaping and enriching 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 become entrepreneurs.”

A POPULAR SCHOOL WHOSE RECRUITMENT PROCESS IS STARTING NOW!

ARTFX will be moving into its premises at La Plaine Images to begin a phase of works aimed at fitting out the future spaces. The first intake, for which admissions open on 8 November 2019, will comprise around 120 students who will join ARTXF Lille in September 2020. By 2025, the school will be welcoming between 300 and 400 students. These up-and-coming talents will then set out to make their mark on the national and international scene, with the best among them hoping to join projects of the calibre of The Lion King, Game of Thrones, X-Men, The Avengers or even Assassin’s Creed…