First ARTFX graduation jury – Lille Euracreative Campus: a memorable first edition at Le Fresnoy

First ARTFX graduation jury – Lille Euracreative Campus: a memorable first edition at Le Fresnoy

Five years after the Lille campus opened, ARTFX celebrated a historic milestone: the first presentation of ARTFX Lille Euracreative graduation films, screened at Le Fresnoy – National Studio of Contemporary Arts in front of a prestigious jury and an impressive audience of studios. On the programme: 12 projects – VFX, 3D animation, 2D animation – praised for their diversity, comprehensive storytelling and confident visual influences.

A high-level jury and industry representatives in attendance

The jury was chaired by Cédric Fayolle (VFX supervisor), surrounded by representatives from leading studios: Caribara Annecy, benuts, TERMINUS, MATHEMATIC, STUDIO BRUNCH, Dreamwall, Eddy, Illumination Studios Paris, Ankama, Istories Prod, nWave Studios, Kazoo Animation, UNIT IMAGE, Fortiche Production, Mikros Animation/Rodeo FX, UFX Studios, One Of Us, NOID, ACFX, The Yard VFX, MPC, DNEG, Untold Studios, among others, as well as numerous freelancers.

We also paid tribute to Philippe Vidal, who was originally scheduled to be on the jury.

12 films, 3 categories, the same storytelling standards

The 12 short films presented (VFX, 3D, 2D) are distinguished by a clear desire to tell complete stories, with the narrative taking precedence over technical demonstration, without ever denying the expertise of the teams. In terms of influences, the films explore bold bridges (e.g. 2D/3D). The references are very varied, resulting in a wide range of genres – comedy, horror, historical, fairy tales, fantasy – and unique visual proposals. The screening showcased a beautiful diversity of forms and narratives: 4 2D animated films (Banana Ninja, Cupid, Seasons, Higene Project), 1 2D/3D hybrid (Silent Night), three 3D/full CGI shorts (Hypnosis, The Way, Mesofaune) and four live action projects with CGI/VFX (Conspirosaurus, Two Kings, Udda, Lancastria). A total of 70 students from the class of 2025 created these final projects, reflecting a high level of technical mastery and a true diversity of worlds.

The making-of videos: a technical and collaborative calling card

True to our tradition, the making-of videos were just as carefully crafted as the films themselves: a valuable format for our students, highlighting the technical and artistic challenges involved, which is essential for their professional integration. A special feature in Lille: these making-of videos were co-produced with students from École 24 (located on the same campus), who also participate in the filming of live & VFX projects. This inter-departmental collaboration reinforces the learning of real pipelines and set culture.

A prime example is Lancastria, a short historical film about the 1940 shipwreck. The making-of documents archival research, the reconstruction of Saint-Nazaire, filming challenges and aesthetic choices – rich content that is useful to recruiters and peers alike.

“We are immensely proud of this first graduating class in Lille: the students have put all their ambition and solidarity into their stories without getting lost in technical demonstrations. They have proven that they are capable of making films and that they are ready to enter this wonderful industry.”
Alexandre Pagot, Director of the ARTFX Lille Euracreative campus

A two-stage format: celebrate, screen, integrate

In July, an initial screening brought families together to unveil the films and celebrate the culmination of five years of study. It was a warm moment, designed as a stage of transmission: sharing the pride of the work accomplished, measuring the progress made, and thanking those who had accompanied the graduating class.

In September, it was time to focus on careers: a screening dedicated to studios and recruiters, followed by a structured job dating event. The aim was to promote rapid and high-quality integration by increasing direct, targeted and useful exchanges between young graduates and decision-makers. The day ended with a convivial gathering with the jury and partners, continuing the discussions and opening up initial opportunities.

Below is a video capturing these highlights. Video produced by Simon Delahaye, a student at École 24.

Jury’s favourite

The jury’s favourite is BANANA NINJA (2D animation), a short film that humorously subverts the conventions of Japanese animation. Inspired by retro aesthetics — with art direction reminiscent of Medabots or Pokémon — the film features a colourful palette and original graphic universe, where action anime conventions are combined with highly effective gags. The soundtrack, which combines traditional Japanese instruments and contemporary rhythms, supports a perfectly controlled pace. The result is a film that is both referential and fresh, which won over the Lille 2025 jury with its visual identity, tempo and sense of comedy.

Acknowledgements

🙏 Thank you to Cédric Fayolle, president of the jury, to all the professionals present, to the students and teaching teams who made this first edition a memorable moment for ARTFX Lille Euracreative – and a tremendous springboard into the industry.

What now?

The films and making-of videos will be posted online shortly. In the meantime, studios and partners can contact our talent & admissions teams to receive applications, organise interviews or schedule campus presentations.
Contact: apply@artfx.fr

With this first jury, ARTFX Lille Euracreative confirms its DNA: artistic excellence, technical mastery, a culture of collaboration and openness to the industry. See you soon to discover the films online!

© Photos: Pidz, Aurore Vartanian