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CURRICULUM
This section provides an overview of the full curriculum structure, illustrating how the courses are organized throughout the program, by trimester, semester, and year.
Science and technology modules typically consist of 36 hours, with a 50/50 split between theory and practice, including practical projects, spread over 9 weeks. This approach is designed to give students more time to absorb and understand the theory and practice, with opportunities to work on assignments and reinforce their learning in between sessions. Some second-year modules may have a duration of 24 hours.
The programming languages are C++ and Python. Unreal Engine is used primarily for game engine programming, augmented reality, and practical projects in virtual production. GPU programming APIs include OpenGL, CUDA/OpenCL, and Vulkan, particularly in Technical Director courses.
The Creative Project modules allow students to explore the technology of their choice at their own pace. They can focus on tools used in the film industry, work on game development, or analyze scientific papers to reproduce and extend research findings. These projects aim to enhance Technical Director and Creative Technologist skills, with students submitting a report at the end of each academic period to document their progress.
Per year:
- 70 ECTS credits
- 1607 hours (academic + industry)
1st Year
The 1st year gives you the basics to: 1) computer graphics (modeling, animation, rendering, 3D programming and game engine), 2) computer vision and 3) AI.
FOUNDATIONS Level
Period 1
This period lasts approximately 3 months, typically from September to December.
| Refresher & Bootcamp | Teachers | Shared with X | ECTS | Hours | using AI | Technology |
| Cinematography | ENS LL | 0 | camera | |||
| . Cinema Essentials | 31.5 | |||||
| . Hands-On Introduction to Filmmaking | 35 | |||||
| Software Engineering | X | |||||
| . Modern C++ and Software Engineering | 0 | 9 | C++, CMake, vcpkg, Visual Studio | |||
| Computer Graphics | X | ViCAI (1st year MSc&T) | ||||
| . Introduction to Computer Graphics | 0 | 12 | C++, cgp (OpenGL) | |||
| Artificial Intelligence | X | ViCAI (1st year MSc&T) | ||||
| . Applied Maths for Artificial Intelligence | 0 | 15 | ||||
| Science & Technology (Mathematics & Informatics) | ||||||
| Modeling | X | IVA track (3rd year Ingénieur Polytechnicien) | ||||
| . Digital Representations and Analysis of Shapes | 4 | 36 | yes | C++, libigl | ||
| Animation | X | IVA track (3rd year Ingénieur Polytechnicien) | ||||
| . Computer Animation | 4 | 36 | C++, cgp (OpenGL) | |||
| Computer Vision | X | IVA track (3rd year Ingénieur Polytechnicien) | ||||
| . Image Analysis and Computer Vision | 4 | 36 | yes | Python or C++ (student choice) | ||
| Technical Director | X | |||||
| . Real-Time 3D Programming | 2 | 27 | C++, OpenGL | |||
| Cinematography & Virtual Production | ||||||
| Ecosystem & Management | 3 | 36 | ||||
| . The Film Industry | ENS LL | |||||
| . Historical Approach of Cinema | ENS LL | |||||
| . History of VFX and Technological Innovation | ENS LL | |||||
| . Filmmaking process: What goes into making an animated film? | X | |||||
| Technologies and Practices in Digital Cinematography | ENS LL | 3 | ||||
| . Camera Technologies | 35 | |||||
| . Applied Optics | 28 | |||||
| . Color Science | 35 | |||||
| . Production Workflow | 21 | |||||
| Art & Science | ||||||
| Creative Project | X | (student choice) | (student choice) | |||
| . Creative Exploration Project: Bridging Art and Science | 1 | 36 | e.g. Blender, OpenUSD | |||
| Languages | ||||||
| Foreign Languages | X | yes | 1.5 | |||
Period 2
This period lasts approximately 3 months, typically from January to March.
| ECTS | HOURS | WEEKS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| INDUSTRY | |||
| Work in the partner company | 10 | 441 | ~ 12.6 weeks |
INTERMEDIATE Level
Period 3
This period lasts approximately 3 months, typically from April to June.
| Science & Technology (Mathematics & Informatics) | Teachers | Shared with X | ECTS | Hours | using AI | Technology |
| Rendering | X | adaptation from IVA track (3rd year Ingénieur Polytechnicien) | ||||
| . Image Synthesis & Physically-Based Rendering | 4 | 36 | C++, OpenGL | |||
| Game Engine | X | |||||
| . Real-Time 3D with Unreal Engine | 3 | 28 | Unreal Engine | |||
| Artificial Intelligence | X | adaptation from IVA track (3rd year Ingénieur Polytechnicien) | ||||
| . Foundations of Machine Learning, Deep Learning and Generative AI | 4 | 36 | yes | Python | ||
| Generative AI Workshop | ENS LL, X | |||||
| . Generative AI (Tools and Strategies for Creative Innovation) | 3 | 48 | yes | ComfyUI | ||
| Cinematography & Virtual Production | ||||||
| Virtual Production Workshops | ||||||
| . Previs/Techvis/Postvis, New Tools & Workflows in Film Industry | Les Tontons Truqueurs | 1.5 | 28 | Unreal Engine | ||
| . 3D Acquisition in Production (Gaussian Splatting) | Les Tontons Truqueurs | 1.5 | 28 | |||
| Exploring AI in Cinematic Creation [ Transversal Inter-School Project ] | ENS LL, La CinéFabrique | |||||
| . Virtual Production Hackathon: Integrate Generative AI in Short Films | 0.5 | 35 | yes | ComfyUI, Unreal Engine | ||
| | ENS LL, X | 3 | 36 | |||
| . | yes | ComfyUI, Unreal Engine | ||||
| . | MocapLab | |||||
| Aesthetic & Technical Analysis | ENS LL | 1.5 | 18 | |||
| . Aesthetic & Technical Analysis of Images | ||||||
| . Harassment & Gender-Based Violence | ||||||
| | ENS LL | 1.5 | 18 | |||
| . | ||||||
| . Reflecting on AI in Cinema and Audiovisual Creation | ||||||
| Scenario Reading | ENS LL | |||||
| . Scenario Reading & Movie Production Breakdown | 1 | 14 | ||||
| Capstone Film Project [ Graduation Film ] | ENS LL | |||||
| . Defining the Project | 1 | 14 | ||||
| Art & Science | ||||||
| Creative Project | X | 1 | 36 | (student choice) | (student choice) | |
| . Creative Exploration Project: Bridging Art and Science | ||||||
| Languages & Physical Activities | ||||||
| Foreign Languages (cinema oriented) | X | 1.5 | ||||
| Sport Activities | student proof | 2 |
Period 4
This period lasts approximately 3 months, typically from July to September.
| ECTS | HOURS | WEEKS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| INDUSTRY | |||
| Work in the partner company | 10 | 420 | ~ 12 weeks |
2nd Year
ADVANCED Level
Period 5
This period lasts approximately 3 months, typically from September to December.
| Science & Technology (Mathematics & Informatics) | Teachers | Shared with X | ECTS | Hours | using AI | Technology |
| Digital 3D Scene Acquisition | X | |||||
| . 3D Scene Acquisition, Reconstruction and Neural Representations for Cinema | 3 | 36 | yes | Python | ||
| Augmented Reality | X | |||||
| . Augmented Reality: Theory & Applications in Movies & TV Broadcast | 3 | 36 | Unreal Engine, C++ | |||
| 3D Shape Analysis & Geometric Deep Learning | X | ViCAI (2nd year MSc&T) | ||||
| . Analysis and Deep Learning on Geometric Data | 2 | 24 | yes | |||
| Smart 3D Models | X | ViCAI (2nd year MSc&T) | ||||
| . Creative and Generative Models in Computer Graphics (for modeling & animation) | 2 | 24 | yes | Unity, C# | ||
| Technical Director | X | |||||
| . GPU Computing & Modern GPU Features | 2 | 27 | yes | CUDA, OpenCL, C++, OpenGL… | ||
| Cinematography & Virtual Production | ||||||
| VFX Workshops | ENS LL | 1 | ||||
| . VFX Workshop: Houdini for Technical Director | 35 | Houdini, VEX, python, C++ | ||||
| . Compositing Workshop: Nuke for Technical Director | 28 | Nuke, python, C++ | ||||
| Managing Real and Virtual Sets | ||||||
| . Film Case Study | ENS LL | |||||
| . On-Set Acquisition | ENS LL, La Fémis | |||||
| . ICVFX Project: Green Screen | ||||||
| Capstone Film Project [ Graduation Film ] | ENS LL | |||||
| . Pre-Production | 1 | 42 | ||||
| | ENS LL | |||||
| | ENS LL | |||||
| | ENS LL, X | |||||
| | ENS LL | |||||
| Art & Science | ||||||
| Creative Project | X | (student choice) | (student choice) | |||
| . Creative Exploration Project: Bridging Art and Science | 1 | 54 | e.g. Houdini, Nuke | |||
| Languages | ||||||
| Foreign Languages | X | yes | ||||
Period 6
This period lasts approximately 3 months, typically from January to March.
| ECTS | HOURS | WEEKS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| INDUSTRY | |||
| Work in the partner company | 12 | 539 | ~ 15.4 weeks |
SPECIALIZED Level
Period 7
This period lasts approximately 3 months, typically from April to June.
| Science & Technology (Mathematics & Informatics) | Teachers | Shared with X | ECTS | Hours | using AI | Technology |
| Motion Capture | X, Télécom SudParis | |||||
| . Motion Capture: Technical Foundations & AI Applications | 2 | 20 | yes | |||
| Computational Cinematography | X | |||||
| . Computational Cinematography: AI for Film Analysis and Intelligent Camera Systems | 3 | 36 | yes | Python, Unreal Engine | ||
| Audio | X, Télécom Paris | |||||
| . Audio Signal Processing and Spatial Audio | 2 | 24 | yes | |||
| Technical Director | X | |||||
| . Advanced Real-Time 3D Programming (Vulkan) | 1.5 | 15 | yes | C++, Vulkan, OpenGL, Python, … | ||
| | X | |||||
| . | 2 | 24 | yes | |
||
| Cinematography & Virtual Production | ||||||
| Motion Capture | ENS LL, MocapLab | |||||
| . Motion Capture: Real-World Integration (in Professional Studio) | 1 | 16 | ||||
| Capstone Film Project [ Graduation Film ] | ENS LL | |||||
| . Pre-Production (autonomy) | 0 | 21 | ||||
| . VFX & Compositing Review | 0.5 | 21 | ||||
| . Film Review | 0.5 | 7 | ||||
| . Preparation | 0.5 | 14 | ||||
| . Shooting | 2 | 56 | ||||
| . Post-Production | 2 | 49 | ||||
| . Screening | 0 | 7 | ||||
| Art & Science | ||||||
| Creative Project | X | (student choice) | (student choice) | |||
| . Creative Exploration Project: Bridging Art and Science | 1 | 24 | ||||
| Languages & Physical Activities | ||||||
| Foreign Languages (cinema oriented) | X | |||||
| Sport Activities | student proof | |||||
Period 8
This period lasts approximately 3 months, typically from July to September.
| ECTS | HOURS | WEEKS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| INDUSTRY | |||
| Work in the partner company | 12 | 357 | ~ 10.2 weeks |