Dive into the heart of the film and audiovisual industry
A regular at arthouse cinemas or a series "binge watcher," you have a passion for film, brim with ideas for programs, and dream of taking part in a festival… The film and audiovisual sectors are exciting and constantly changing, subject to technical innovations, artistic challenges, and changes in how works are consumed and distributed.
With this Master, you will discover every aspect of this sector and gain valuable expertise to find your place in it. The two years of the program are in a work-study format, with many hands-on workshops.
You will thus have access to careers as stimulating as producer, production administrator, distribution manager in France and internationally, or communications manager for a film festival.
Key Information About the Master
| Program | Master in Film & Audiovisual Production and Distribution |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 years |
| Admission | Bac+3 for entry into the 1st year |
| Lateral Admission | Possible in the 2nd year depending on profile |
| Start Date | October 2027 |
| Schedule | Professional program, work-study possible |
| Certification | RNCP title no. 42330 – level 7 "Artistic and Cultural Projects Administrator" |
| Fees 2026-2027 | €9,700 in the 1st year; €10,300 for M2 lateral admission; €150 in tuition fees |
Why Is the Master in Film and Audiovisual Production Right for You?
Film, series, and audiovisual content hold a central place in the cultural industries. Behind every work, many professionals are at work to finance, organize, produce, distribute, promote, and support projects for audiences.
The Master in Audiovisual and Film Production and Distribution trains profiles able to lead audiovisual projects, understand the economic logic of the sector, work with the artistic and technical teams, and support the distribution of works in different markets.
This program is for students who want to build a professional career in film, audiovisual, cultural production, and the distribution of works.
It can suit profiles from backgrounds in culture, arts, communications, marketing, project management, audiovisual, film, events, literature, humanities, or creative industries.
Move from analysis to action
You don’t just study film:
you produce real projects, from concept to distribution.
Master the entire production chain
Develop, finance, manage, and distribute:
you understand every stage of an audiovisual project.
Work like in the industry
Supervised projects, real constraints, professional deliverables: you prepare for what the profession expects.
Real Projects to Become Professional
The Master in Audiovisual & Film Production and Distribution emphasizes practice and real-life simulation.
Students may be asked to work on projects such as:
- writing and directing a short film
- preparing a production budget
- building a funding application
- analyzing a distribution strategy
- creating a communication plan
- preparing a project for a festival or a professional market
- presenting a project before a jury or professionals
These experiences help build a professional mindset and a better understanding of the realities of the audiovisual sector.
What Are the Goals of This Program?
The program aims to train sector experts with broad culture and operational skills across the various film and audiovisual professions:
- Acquisition of film and audiovisual culture, as well as the ability to analyze works and a command of the artistic issues of the sector;
- Acquisition of skills and expertise in the creation, production, and distribution of films, series, or programs, and in audiovisual project management;
- Awareness of the sector’s challenges around CSR or artistic and ethical issues related to AI.
What You Will Learn in This Program
The Administrator of Artistic and Cultural Projects title aims at the acquisition of the following skills:
- Defining an Artistic and Cultural Project
- Manage the administrative and financial operations of an artistic and cultural project
- Deploy a digital strategy for the marketing and distribution of an artistic and cultural project
- Manage an artistic and cultural project
- Developing the Funding Strategy of an Artistic and Cultural Project (Specialization)
What Is the Curriculum of the Master in Audiovisual & Film Production and Distribution?
The Master in Audiovisual & Film Production and Distribution curriculum is organized over 2 years. It gives students a complete view of the challenges of production, distribution, broadcasting, law, funding, marketing, and transformation of the audiovisual and cultural industries.
The program alternates theoretical courses, practical workshops, certifying workshops, group projects, professional support, and simulations related to the film and audiovisual sector.
Year 1:
Unit 1 — Film and Audiovisual Analysis
- Cinematographic work seminar
- Film and audiovisual narrative
- TV series seminar
- Cinema Through Time
Unit 2 — Professionalization
- Professionalization and career coaching
- Public speaking and storytelling
- Methodology: project management
- Study trip
- Sector overview
Unit 3 — Film Production and Distribution
- Public funding and development strategies
- Production management
- Distribution in France
- Festivals
- International sales
- Film music management
Unit 4 — Audiovisual Law
- Entrepreneurship in the audiovisual sector
- Audiovisual law
Unit 5 — Short Film Production Workshop
- Screenwriting: short film
- Building a funding application
- DTP Workshop
- Production: Short film (Pre-production, Shooting, Post-production, Screening)
Unit 6 — Cultural and Creative Industries
- Sociology and cultural ecology
- Economics of Culture
- CSR
- Ecoprod
Unit 7 — Marketing and Communication
- Marketing applied to the sector
- Digital communication strategy
- Release marketing
- Exams, defenses, and orientation seminar
Year 2:
Unit 1 — Film and Audiovisual Analysis
- Philosophy of film and digital creation
- Series
- Screenplay appraisal
- Audiovisual content and market analysis
Unit 2 — Professionalization / PGR
- PGR Coaching
- Professionalization and career coaching
- Study trip: Berlinale February 2027
- Production company and production administration
- PGR pitching
Unit 3 — Production of a Film or Audiovisual Work
- Production management
- Post-production management
- Co-production / distribution / sales contracts
- Insurance
- Film music production
- New media content production / Virtual Reality
- International co-productions and international distribution
Unit 4 — Distribution, Funding, Sales, and Marketing
- Program
- VOD / platforms
- Grant application for a digital project
Unit 5 — The Future of Culture
- Artificial intelligence
- Creator Economy: Ecosystems, Platforms, and Business Models
- VHSS workshop
Unit 7 — Certifying Workshops
- Design and implement a cultural mediation initiative
- Deploy a Communication and Marketing Strategy
- Certifying workshop: CRM
- Lead a Project Team
- Exams, defenses, and orientation seminar
How Are Students Assessed?
The level 7 certified title “Administrator of Artistic and Cultural Projects” is awarded after validation of the 5 skills blocks. Each block involves simulated or real professional scenarios, with structured deliverables assessed by a jury of professionals.
- Block 1: Defining an artistic and cultural project
Professional simulation based on a real or fictional case on defining an artistic and/or cultural project. Case study based on a real or fictional case of designing a cultural and artistic mediation proposal, including documentation on defining an artistic and cultural project. - Block 2: Conducting the administrative and financial operations of an artistic and cultural project
Practical case based on a real or fictional case on conducting the administrative and financial operations of an artistic and cultural project. Professional simulation based on a real or fictional professional situation of implementing a partnership. - Block 3: Deploying a digital sales and distribution strategy for an artistic and cultural project
Professional simulation of a real or fictional case of deploying a digital sales and distribution strategy for an artistic and/or cultural project. Practical case based on a real or fictional project to carry out in the art market and/or cultural industries sector. - Block 4: Leading an artistic and cultural project
Professional simulations based on a real or fictional case on coordinating a project’s stakeholders and on a real or fictional case of implementing a quality system after project closure. Practical case based on a real or fictional case presenting project management process optimization challenges. - Block 6: Developing the funding strategy of an artistic and cultural project (specialization B)
Professional simulation based on a real or fictional professional situation on defining the fundraising strategy, negotiating partnerships and sponsorships, setting up retention actions, and assessing the financial impact of the partnerships and sponsorships of an artistic and cultural project.
Skills block:
Obtaining the certification is conditional on validating all the skills blocks.
Each skills block can be capitalized throughout the duration of the certification.
Project-based learning
The program is based on active, immersive teaching that combines theoretical courses, practical workshops, group projects, and immersion in the professional realities of the audiovisual sector.
Students take foundational modules that enable them to master the artistic, technical, legal, economic, and organizational challenges of film and audiovisual production. These inputs are immediately put into practice through production exercises, real-life cases, and teamwork, supervised by industry professionals.
Throughout the program, students get hands-on experience in the various film professions: screenwriting, casting, art direction, stage management, directing, executive production, communication, and distribution. Each class produces several audiovisual projects, including an original short film, from concept to post-production. These experiences build concrete skills while integrating the project methodology specific to the creative industries.
The program also places great emphasis on opening up to the professional ecosystem, through meetings with experts, talks by producers, distributors, or directors, visits to major festivals (Cannes, Berlinale, etc.), and collaborations with film schools. Students notably design and organize a short film awards ceremony, allowing them to explore cultural event production in all its dimensions.
Finally, each student develops a personal production project that they complete at the end of the program, with the support of a professional tutor. This project is presented to a jury as part of the certification, and demonstrates the student’s ability to draw on all the skills acquired to design, produce, and promote a meaningful audiovisual work.
Open Day: December 5
Open days let you discover the campus, meet the teams, ask your questions about the program, admissions, work-study, student projects and career opportunities.
It is also an opportunity to better understand the teaching approach of IESA arts&culture and the organization of these programs.
Work-Study, Internships, and Professionalization
The Master in Audiovisual & Film Production and Distribution is designed to foster students' progressive professionalization.
The program may include internships, supervised projects, and simulations, and can be completed as work-study.
These experiences allow students to expand their network, test their skills against the needs of cultural organizations, and better prepare for entering the job market.
Assignments may involve the production, administration, coordination, communication, programming, distribution, or release of audiovisual projects.
A program connected to festivals
The audiovisual sector is also built at festivals, markets, screenings, meetings, and professional events.
The program raises students' awareness of these environments, which play an important role in the visibility, sale, distribution, and circulation of artworks.
Depending on the year’s teaching program, students may work on professional events or markets such as the Berlinale, MIPCOM, or the Cannes Film Festival.
What careers after a Master in Audiovisual Production?
The Master prepares students for roles related to production, administration, distribution, programming, and communication in film, audiovisual media, and the cultural industries.
Audiovisual Production Producer
Production Administrator
International Distribution and Sales International Distribution or Sales Manager
Audiovisual Programming Programming Manager
Marketing and Communication Marketing/Communication Manager in the Film/Audiovisual Sector
Communications Manager of a Film or Audiovisual Festival
Artistic Representation Artist Agent
Certification
This master’s program prepares for the RNCP title level 7:
"Artistic and Cultural Project Administrator"
It certifies skills related to the definition, management, funding, distribution, and administration of artistic and cultural projects.
| Employment Rate | 74% at 6 months of certified students, class of 2024 (most recent France Compétences rate - RNCP title 42330). |
|---|---|
| Certification Rate | 100% of learners in the 2025 class (Master in Cultural Production: Performing Arts) earned the title, out of 27 candidates in 2025. |
| RNCP Code | RNCP42330. |
Professional certification Administrator of Artistic and Cultural Projects from ECAD Consultants – IESA arts&culture, level 7 – 134g, 320n, registered with the RNCP under number 42330 by decision of the Director General of France Compétences dated 05/29/2026 for a period of 3 years.
How to Apply to IESA?
Admission is based on an application file and an interview with the admissions committee
- 1. You find out about the school and its programs.
- 2. You apply to the school by filling out a form on the website.
- 3. We call you to schedule an admission interview
- 4. A few days after the interview, you receive your admissibility decision
How Much Does the Program Cost?
For the 2026-2027 year, the fees are as follows:
| Year | Tuition |
|---|---|
| 1st year | 9 700 € |
| 2nd year | 10 300 € |
| Tuition fees | 150 € |
Applicants can contact the admissions team to find out about:
- payment options
- funding options
- the conditions related to work-study
In work-study, program fees under a professionalization contract or an apprenticeship contract will be covered in full or in part by the employer or by a funding body (OPCO).
The Master lasts 2 years.
Number of in-class teaching hours and exams:
- Master 1: 630 h
- Master 2: 522 h
Current-year schedule: the number of hours may vary slightly from year to year.
The program follows an alternating schedule, allowing for part-time and full-time professional placements (internships and/or work-study), which are mandatory to complete the program.
Initial prerequisite and work-study:
- Entry into the 1st year (M1 – 2-year program): Hold a level 6 certification (Bac+3), or an equivalent degree (foreign degree, etc.), or have earned 180 ECTS credits in the targeted or a related field (culture, art, project management, communication, marketing, events, etc.)
- Entry into the 2nd year (M2 – 1-year program): Hold a level 6 certification (Bac+4), or an equivalent degree (foreign degree, etc.), or have earned 240 ECTS credits, in the targeted or a related field (culture, art, project management, communication, marketing, events, etc.)
Admission is based on the submission of an application file and an interview with the admissions committee.
Access timeframes: Admissions are open from October 2026 to September 2027 for an October 2027 start. Applications are processed within 3 weeks maximum after receipt of the complete file. Enrollment is possible until the start date, subject to available places.
By exception, enrollment is possible after the start date of the program, following review and verification of the learner’s ability to catch up on the learning already delivered, within a maximum of two months after the start of the program.
This program can be completed as work-study. The program follows an alternating schedule, with internships and/or work-study at professional organizations. These placement periods are part of the program’s validation.
Apprentice pass rate: 76.8% class of 2024 (Masters in Cultural Production: Performing Arts, Music, and Film & Audiovisual)
Apprentice dropout rate at CFA ECAD during the 2024-2025 year: 2% (Class of 2025)
The program takes place at IESA on the LE DELTA campus (16 rue Claude Bernard, 75005 Paris) and at partner cultural venues.
IESA premises are accessible to people with disabilities. The admission interview and the course of study can be adapted to the needs of those concerned, who are therefore invited to express them as soon as they apply to the school. Contact: handicap@iesa.fr.
If you do not obtain the RNCP title, please note that if you have validated all the skills of a block, that skill block is yours permanently.
Equivalences: In case of equivalence, whether through VAE and/or obtaining a skill block or an equivalent certification, it is up to the candidate to present this equivalence to the jury for validation.
Transfer options: No transfer options.
Further studies: The Master in Audiovisual and Film Production and Distribution is designed as a professionalizing Bac+5 program, whose primary purpose is to enable direct entry into working life, preparing students to take on positions of responsibility in the film sector.