ArtFX School
Created by professionals of the film and video games industries.
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ARTFX is an international Private School of Visual Effects (VFX), Cinema and new film technologies, 2D & 3D Animation, Video Games, Programming (Coding for Video Games & VFX) and Fine Arts. The school was created in 2004 and is run by professionals from the film and video game industries. It focuses on a solid understanding of traditional artistic disciplines as the foundation for a mastery of digital technologies.
ARTFX Master’s programs deliver the title of ”Réalisateur numérique", officially recognized through the accreditation by the RNCP at level 7 (Master level). The RNCP is the central reference framework for all diplomas, qualifications, and titles recognized by the French government.
Gravity, The Minions, Star Wars episode VIII, Ready Player One, or The Lion King...: we find ARTFX alumni in all the major film or video game productions released in recent years and in major animation, special effects and video game studios located in the United States, Europe and Asia. More than 70% of ArtFX graduates are posted abroad.
ArtFX offers training in SideFX Houdini, Allegorithmic Substance, Autodesk Maya, Toonboom Harmony and Storyboard Pro, Affinity Photo, Mercenaries Guerrilla Renderer, Isotropix Clarisse, Zbrush, Unreal Engine.
Success Stories
Courses prepare students for a successful transition to a professional working environment immediately following graduation: alumni receive their first job offer within an average of 20 days
A network of over 610 alumni working on the biggest productions in some of the largest studios around the world: Illumination Mac Guff, Double Negative, Framestore, Warner Bros, Industrial Light & Magic, Ubisoft, Mikros, MPC, Weta, The Mill, Mathematic, etc.
ArtFX alumni are also solicited to give informative presentations and provide workshop sessions within their expertise for current students.
•Béranger Maurice / Senior Animator / Digital Domain
After ArtFX, I was rapidly promoted to Lead Animator for the feature film Minuscule (studio 2d3D). I was responsible for animating characters and 3D cameras. This experience really opened up doors for me, most notably towards MPC in London where I collaborated on The Jungle Book (Best Visual Effects Oscar winner) as a CG Animator! Then, I spent over 2 years at Method Studios where I had the chance to work on Thor: Ragnarok, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Guardian of The Galaxy vol. 2, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, and Captain America: Civil War. In March 2018, I joined Pixomondo Studio in Canada as Creature Animator. I am currently working on the next Goosebumps movie.
•THIBAULT RHEIN | Class of 2018 | THIBAULT RHEIN | 3D Animator - Axis Studios (Scotland)
I completed by studies at ARTFX with a short film called Street Credibility, featuring anthropomorphic animals. Bringing these 3D creatures to life, through facial expressions, attitudes and good timings, this is the ongoing challenge of a 3D animator. The level of students leaving ARTFX is appreciated and recognized by professionals: I quickly had my place on ambitious projects! I worked at Axis Studios (Scotland), for Season 2 of Happy!, then I at Dwarf studio (Montpellier) on Monsters at Work (Disney+) and TrashTruck (Netflix), before returning to the United Kingdom to work on the video game League of Legends.
Facilities & Staff
ArtFX offers an innovative pedagogical program. The courses are in the form of workshops, using the principle of the inverted classes to promote active learning and initiative throughout a project.
- Learning the most up-to-date techniques on advanced software.
- Developing fine art skills and building artistic culture (sculpting -3D modeling, drawing, photography, concept art, video game creation, etc.).
- Students are actively involved in the learning process. The objectives of the ArtFX program are based as much on know-how as on the personal development of each student: autonomy, maturity, professionalism, culture, artistic and technical abilities, creation, production, innovation, curiosity, and solidarity.
Software
SideFX Houdini, Allegorithmic Substance, Autodesk Maya, Toonboom Harmony et Storyboard Pro, Affinity Photo, Mercenaries Guerrilla Renderer, Isotropix Clarisse, Zbrush, Unreal Engine
Hardware
Regardless of their specialization, students have access to all the professional materials and equipment they need to learn about the complete digital directing process. This includes a filming studio with a cyclorama green screen, a camera crane, steadicam and dolly tracks. Top of the line equipment (HD video cameras, a drone, projectors, flashes and lighting accessories, professional sound recording equipment, digital cameras, and more).
Student Artwork
All ArtFX students, regardless of their specialization, will have experiences creating short VFX, 2D & 3D animation or stop-motion films, video games, VR projects, concept art, paintings, drawings, as well as physical and 3D sculptures.
Courses
| Name | Duration | Price | Intake Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Cinema | 5 years | Year 1 = 7,100€. Years 2-5 = 8,100€ / year | November - June |
| Master of 2D/3D Animation | 5 years | Year 1 = 7,100€. Years 2-5 = 8,100€ / year | November - June |
| Master of CGI & VF | 5 years | Year 1 = 7,100€. Years 2-5 = 8,100€ / year | November - June |
| Master of Video Games | 5 years | Year 1 = 7,100€. Years 2-5 = 8,100€ / year | November - June |
| Master of Programming for VFX & Video Games | 5 years | 8,100€ / year | November - June |
| Fine Arts Foundation Year | 1 years | 5,200€ / year | November - June |
Industry Networking
ArtFX’s state-of-the-art education is fully aligned with the job market thanks to close ties with professionals in the field.
The graduation jury, held each year in June, has become a must-attend event for recruiters from French and international studios of 3D animation, VFX and video games. This event allows ArtFX graduates to present their graduation projects to between 30-40 industry professionals from around the world who come to Montpellier each year and serve as official jury members. ArtFX graduates also participate in one-on-one rapid job interview sessions with these jury members.
During the graduation jury events, ArtFX consults with the industry professionals around the current and upcoming needs within the industry and collects candid feedback regarding the projects and students that the jury members have seen. It is through this type of ongoing, honest dialogue with professional industry members that ArtFX remains relevant and closely aligned with the job market.
Studios Hiring
The following studios hire students from this school: Illumination Mac Guff, DNEG, Framestore, Industrial Light & Magic, Ubisoft, Mikros Image, Moving Picture Company, Weta Digital, RodeoFX, Luma Pictures One of Us, Important Looking Pirates and more.
Awards
General Information
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