About

Our values upheld by everyone

One of the top 10 schools worldwide in VFX, 3D animation and video games

ARTFX has firmly established itself as one of the leading international institutions in the creative industries. Regularly recognized in the rankings published by The Rookies, the school ranks among the world’s top institutions in Visual Effects (VFX) and also holds prominent positions in Game Development, 2D Animation, and 3D Animation. It is further featured in the global Top 50 Creative Schools, confirming both the excellence and consistency of its performance.

This international recognition reflects the academic quality of the institution, the rigor of its programs, and the professional standard of the projects produced by its students.

Graduation films and video games are regularly selected at festivals in France and internationally, with several receiving major awards. ARTFX has earned multiple distinctions at the Visual Effects Society Awards (VES Awards) in the student visual effects category, as well as several awards at PIDS Enghien for Best Student Film. Best Student Video Game has also been honored at Les Pégases, highlighting industry recognition of the excellence of the school’s productions.

Through these prestigious distinctions and benchmark rankings, ARTFX reaffirms its position among the international leaders in education for careers in animation, video games, and visual effects.

Awards & Rankings Awards & Rankings

An independent school founded in 2004.

The independent school ARTFX was founded in 2004 in Montpellier by Gilbert Kiner, a French pioneer in special effects. He began his career in the 80s as a rigging editor for the private channel Canal+, before leaving for Mikros Image to shape the first “trick effects” department. Gilbert Kiner worked at Medialab Technology and then Mainstreet studios, where he supervised the visual effects of various feature films and commercials, working with directors such as Alain Resnais, Jean-Paul Goude, Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Mathieu Kassovitz, Bruno Dumont, Claire Denis, Peter Greenaway among others.

Eager to pass on his expertise, he surrounded himself with enthusiasts working in animation and special effects to found his own school – the first VFX school in France – after unsuccessful attempts to develop a curriculum within a public university. As technologies evolved, special effects, 3D animation and video game industries became increasingly intertwined. Similarly, digital technology has changed the manufacturing processes of 2D animation, which is making a powerful comeback. ARTFX has therefore developed its educational resources to train aspiring artists in these different professions, based on a common core curriculum.

2004

Creation of the ARTFX school in Montpellier, with a course in 3D animation and special effects.

Co-creation of the Réseau des écoles d’animation (network of animation schools: RECA), of which ARTFX is still an active member.

2011

The film ‘The Archiver’, directed by three ARTFX students, received rave online reviews and received one million views.

2012

1st nomination of a film directed by ARTFX students at the VES awards (the equivalent of the special effects Oscars)

2014

Video games course launch

2016

Programming course launch at the request of studios, to train technical directors in video games and special effects.

2018

Genie Awards for best student film 'The Endless' at the Paris Images Digital Summit

Foundation art class launch

2019

ARTFX ranks 1st worldwide in special effects (The Rookies)

2D animation course launch

2020

ARTFX is once again ranked as the school worldwide for special effects (The Rookies)

Opening of 2 campuses in Lille – Plaine Images and Paris – Enghien-les-bains (the Paris campus specializes in 3D animation and special effects)

March 2020: launch of the AKB (ARTFX Knowledge Base) digital flipped classroom platform

2021

Genie Awards for best student film 'Time's Down' at the Paris Images Digital Summit

Opening of a student residence on the ARTFX campus in Montpellier (215 student apartments) and a private projection room

ARTFX is once again ranked as the top school worldwide for special effects and animation (The Rookies)

2023

ARTFX winner of the "La Grande Fabrique de l'Image - France 2030" call for projects

Commissioning of the ARTFX campus in Lille - Plaine images, an 18,000 m2 building (school, film studios + student residence)

Strong values upheld by everyone

excellence creativity supportiveness team spirit innovation independence

Teaching

Supportive
teaching.

ARTFX has developed an original teaching approach, which prevents competition and encourages collaboration amongst students. Being a good team player is just as important as technical excellence and creativity necessary to produce a film or a video game. ARTFX courses combine traditional art disciplines (drawing, sculpture, photography, etc.) with training in the most advanced technologies (software and filming equipment). Graduated students make excellent technicians with an acute artistic awareness and solid knowledge of the entire film- or game-making process. Better still, they are equipped with the toolbox they need to continue learning in a rapidly evolving industry.

Methodology and Path

21 years of experience

~700 students

4 campuses

~40 nationalities

+1000 alumni (with ~50% abroad)

50 permanent staff members

86.5% of students satisfaction rate (according to a “Happy at School”
study conducted in 2021
on 168 students)

The Team

Simon Vanesse Chief Executive Officer ARTFX General Management Biographie

Romain Klapka Directeur de la Communication Direction d'ARTFX Biographie

Martine Charviez Cofondatrice et Directrice administrative et financière Direction d'ARTFX Biographie

Dominique Peyronnet Directrice du campus de Montpellier Direction d'ARTFX Biographie

Luc Pourrinet Head of Development Biographie

Carine Poussou Directrice Pédagogique Direction d'ARTFX Biographie

Marine Charny Chargée de communication Biographie

Juliette Ledoux Admissions and Alumni Officer Service Admission Biographie

Lucia Chapotel Assistante Régie audiovisuelle Biographie

Cyril Tahon Responsable des Systèmes d'Information Service informatique Biographie

Maureen Trippé Coordinatrice Pédagogique 3e, 4e, 5e années Équipe pédagogique Biographie

Fred Frambourt Régisseur Bâtiment Service régie Biographie

Henri Bessou Producer et Coordinateur Game Équipe pédagogique Biographie

Carole Maccotta International Students Coordinator Teacher of English & French as a Foreign Language Academic and administration teams Biographie

Tiphaine Duflot (alias Mrs D) Head of International Students and Intellectual Self-Defense Teacher Academic and administration teams Biographie

Aurore Vartanian Chargée de communication Communication Biographie

Géraldine Guermonprez Communication manager Biographie

Léa Fiorini Admissions and Alumni Officer Biographie

Céline Morin Comptable Service comptabilité Biographie

Benjamin Euzet Régisseur Bâtiment Service régie Biographie

Céline Henry Technicienne Informatique Service informatique Biographie

Ignacio Morales Responsable pédagogique de la Production des projets de fin d'études Équipe pédagogique Biographie

Alexandre Nguyen Technicien Support en alternance Service informatique Biographie

Grégory Mangin Responsable service informatique & Administrateur Système DevOps Service informatique Biographie

Sophie Fourrier Coordinatrice Pédagogique classe préparatoire, 1re et 2e années Service coordination pédagogique Biographie

Marie Leblanc Adjointe de Direction ARTFX Lille - Plaine Images Équipe administrative Biographie

Cyril Georgin Directeur des opérations Service régie Biographie

Zoé Ardenoy Community Manager Biographie

Eglantine Deprost Assistante de Scolarité Équipe administrative Biographie

Camille Danjean Coordinatrice Pédagogique 24 & Cycle 2D ARTFX Service coordination pédagogique Biographie

Axel Aïxa Directeur des systèmes d'information Service informatique Biographie

Géraldine Marlier Coordinatrice Pédagogique et Responsable Scolarité Équipe pédagogique Biographie

Reignier Rampangajouw Responsable Pédagogique 2D Équipe pédagogique Biographie

Alexandre Dobrenel Responsable Pédagogique Équipe pédagogique Biographie

Laura Caron Coordinatrice de scolarité Campus de Lille - Plaine images Biographie

Elisa Blanché Education Coordinator Campus de Montpellier Biographie

Marie Legrand Responsable pédagogique Programmation Équipe pédagogique Biographie

Loona Van-Poucke Enseignant Chara Design & Art Conceptuel Équipe pédagogique Biographie

Alexandre Huyghe Intervenant en informatique (IT) Biographie

Fabrice Coget Intervenant en Prespective Biographie

Frédéric Vico Responsable Pédagogique Animation 3D Équipe pédagogique Biographie

Pierre Calop (alias PIDZ) Enseignant Photographie Équipe pédagogique Biographie

Tom Gobart Intervenant en scénario Biographie

Claire Trollé Responsable Pédagogique des Enseignements Artistiques en classe préparatoire et Année 1, intervenante en créativité Équipe pédagogique Biographie