Overview
ESCAC (Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya) is a private film school in Terrassa, approximately 20 miles north of Barcelona. Founded in 1994, the school is affiliated with the University of Barcelona as a private centre. Students who complete the Grado Oficial en Cinematografia receive an official university degree recognised across the European Higher Education Area.
The Bachelor's Degree in Filmmaking costs approximately EUR 13,500 per academic year, totalling 240 ECTS credits over 4 years. The per-credit rate for 2025-2026 is EUR 17.69. The Foundation Course, taught in English, costs EUR 9,700 (or EUR 8,700 with early-bird pricing until April 10). The Master in Film and Screen Studies costs EUR 5,200 for one academic year.
ESCAC accepts 80 to 90 students each year from 300 to 400 applications, making the acceptance rate approximately 20 to 25%. The school's in-house production company, ESCAC Films, produces and distributes student work with professional festival submission strategy. Student films have won over 500 awards at festivals including Sundance, Cannes, Berlin, and San Sebastian.
If you want an official European university degree in filmmaking with access to a professional production company, ESCAC fits your goals. Review the official degree page for current admission requirements.
History
ESCAC was founded in 1994 in Barcelona as a private film school affiliated with the University of Barcelona. The school established its campus in Terrassa, a city with a historical connection to Catalan film production. In 2007, ESCAC launched the Diploma in Film, Sound and Video, expanding its production training capacity. The school created ESCAC Films, its in-house production company, to produce and distribute student thesis films with professional support. ESCAC student films have competed at Sundance, Cannes, Berlin, Rotterdam, and San Sebastian, accumulating over 500 awards. In 2024, the school launched the Dream Makers short film contest with J.A. Bayona, offering a full 4-year scholarship and nearly EUR 500,000 to produce a short film.
Programs Offered
Bachelor's Degree in Filmmaking (Grado Oficial en Cinematografia)
A 4-year, 240-ECTS official university degree from the University of Barcelona. The first 2 years cover general filmmaking fundamentals. From year 3, students specialise through elective subjects in one of 8 disciplines:
- Producing (Produccion) - Development, financing, production management
- Directing (Direccion) - Narrative fiction filmmaking and creative vision
- Cinematography (Direccion de Fotografia) - Camera, lighting, visual design
- Art Direction (Direccion de Arte) - Production design, set construction, visual styling
- Screenwriting (Guion) - Feature and television script development
- Editing (Montaje) - Post-production workflow and assembly
- Sound (Sonido) - Production sound, sound design, mixing
- Documentary (Documental) - Nonfiction production
In year 4, students develop their Trabajo de Fin de Grado (TFG, final degree project). Directing and Cinematography draw the most applicants, making them the most competitive specialisations.
Foundation Course (Taught in English)
A 1-year, 60-credit introductory program for pre-university students and international applicants. 50 spots in Spanish and 50 spots in English. No previous university entrance qualifications required. Admission requires a videopitch and CV. Starts September 14, 2026. Costs EUR 9,700 (early-bird EUR 8,700 until April 10). Completing the Foundation Course substitutes for passing the PAP aptitude test.
Master's Programs
- Master in Film and Screen Studies - Official University of Barcelona master's. 60 ECTS over 1 year or 120 ECTS over 2 years. EUR 5,200. Evaluation weights: academic CV 35%, presentation letter 25%, research proposal 40%.
- Master in Film Directing (English) - EUR 12,990 early bird, EUR 13,500 standard. Programme Director: Geoffrey Cowper. Starts September 7, 2026.
- Master Universitario en Estudios de Cine y Culturas Visuales - 60 ECTS over 1 year, EUR 5,200, taught in Spanish. Starts September 28, 2026.
Notable Alumni and What They've Made
ESCAC graduates have built careers across Spanish and international cinema:
- J.A. Bayona - Graduate of ESCAC's first class. Director of The Orphanage (2007, 7 Goya Awards), The Impossible (2012, 5 Goya Awards, Oscar nomination for Naomi Watts), A Monster Calls (2016), Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), and Society of the Snow (2023). Society of the Snow won 11 Goya Awards including Best Film and Best Director, and received an Oscar nomination for Best International Film. Bayona also directed the first 2 episodes of Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
- Mar Coll - Director, Goya Award for Best New Director (2010).
- Kike Maillo - Director, Goya Award for Best New Director (2012).
- Belen Funes - Director, Goya Award for Best New Director (2020).
- Dani de la Orden - Director of commercial Spanish features.
- Nely Reguera - Director of Maria y los demas.
- Eduard Grau - Cinematographer working in international productions.
- Oscar Faura - Cinematographer and visual effects supervisor.
ESCAC alumni have received 60+ technical category Goya nominations and 26 Goya Awards, including 4 for Best New Director.
Acceptance Rate
ESCAC receives 300 to 400 applications each year and admits 80 to 90 students, yielding an acceptance rate of approximately 20 to 25%. The Hollywood Reporter reported that the school received over 400 applications for recent cycles. Admission requires passing the PAP (Prueba de Aptitud Personal), ESCAC's aptitude test, and completing university pre-registration through the Catalan university access system. The PAP evaluates artistic sensitivity, creativity, analytical capacity, and interest in film. It consists of a portfolio submission, an audiovisual exercise, and a videopitch. Applicants can only take the PAP once per year.
Standout Faculty
- Jaume Macia - Head of Studies for the Bachelor's Degree in Filmmaking. Oversees academic curriculum and student progression.
- Tere Zuluaga - Program Coordinator for the Bachelor's Degree. Manages course scheduling and student advising.
- Geoffrey Cowper - Programme Director for the Master in Film Directing (English). Working director and ESCAC alumnus.
- Eric Gurrera - Programme Coordinator for the Master in Film Directing.
- Robert Cortes - Course Coordinator for the Foundation Course (English).
ESCAC faculty includes working professionals from across the Spanish and Catalan film industries. The school's partnerships with Warner Bros. Spain, Pedro Almodovar's El Deseo, and Telecinco Cinema bring industry practitioners into classrooms and create internship and employment pathways.
Tuition / Aid Reality
Bachelor's Degree: EUR 13,500 per year (EUR 12,950 net standard enrolment, broken down as EUR 1,107.60 public price for 60 credits, EUR 69.80 administration fees, EUR 11,412.60 foundation fee). Total 4-year cost: approximately EUR 54,000.
Foundation Course: EUR 9,700 (EUR 8,700 early-bird until April 10).
Master's Programs: EUR 5,200 to EUR 13,500 depending on program.
Aid: ESCAC does not participate in US federal loan programs. The Dream Makers contest offers 1 full 4-year scholarship per year. CUPRA, in partnership with ESCAC and J.A. Bayona, offers a short film competition with a full scholarship to the school. Spanish students may access government loan programs. International students should arrange funding through their home country's systems.
Cost of living: Terrassa is less expensive than central Barcelona. Budget EUR 700 to EUR 1,000 per month for rent, food, and transportation.
Facilities and Equipment
ESCAC's campus in Terrassa includes studios, editing suites, screening rooms, and production equipment. The school's in-house production company, ESCAC Films, produces and markets student work with professional distribution support and festival submission strategy.
ESCAC student films regularly appear at international festivals including Berlin, San Sebastian, Malaga, Sundance, Cannes, Rotterdam, Clermont-Ferrand, and Chicago. The school maintains partnerships with Warner Bros. Spain, El Deseo, and Telecinco Cinema, providing internship opportunities and employment pathways.
Over 400 ESCAC students are accredited at the Sitges Film Festival each year through the Sitges ESCAC Week, where they attend screenings, masterclasses, and industry events.
Student Film Examples
ESCAC student thesis films (TFG and TFM) are produced by ESCAC Films with technical teams trained entirely at ESCAC:
- La filla d'algú (2019) - Feature film by the 20th graduating class, involving 11 directors, 17 scriptwriters, 6 production managers, 10 cinematographers, and 9 editors. Won the Movistar Award for Best Film and Silver Biznaga for Best Actress at the Malaga Film Festival. Screened at Bcn Film Fest.
- El Porvenir (L'Avenir, 2022) - TFG directed by Santiago Rafales. Won Best Short Film at SEMINCI's La Noche del Corto Espanol.
- Point Jordan (2022) - TFG directed by Pol Miro. Competed in the Official Selection at the Sitges Film Festival.
- Frio Polar (2022) - TFG animation directed by Albert Perdices. Competed in the SGAE Nova Autoria section at Sitges.
- Blava Terra (2024) - Directed by Marine Auclair. Won SGAE Nova Autoria Award for Best Direction/Production at Sitges.
ESCAC Films has accumulated over 500 awards, including a Goya Award for Best Fiction Short Film, 2 Gaudi Awards, 3 Silver Biznagas from Malaga, Best International Short Film at Sundance, third prize in Cinefondation at Cannes, and the Queer Palm at Cannes.
What Filmmakers Should Know
The primary programs are taught in Catalan and Spanish. The Foundation Course and Master in Film Directing are taught in English. International students in the English programs have access to the same facilities and collaborative opportunities with degree program students.
The PAP aptitude test is the main admissions barrier. The April PAP has registration April 6-11, 2026, with results May 9. The June PAP has registration June 3-10, with results June 25. Applicants can only take the PAP once per year.
International applicants must meet Spanish university access requirements. Visa-requiring students should request an embassy appointment immediately upon acceptance, as the procedure can take 2 to 4 months.
The key trade-off: ESCAC provides an official European university degree with professional production support through ESCAC Films, but tuition is higher than at public Spanish film schools. The school's industry partnerships with Warner Bros. Spain, El Deseo, and Telecinco Cinema create direct employment pathways that justify the cost for many students.
Watch
See Also
For comparing film school ROI against self-taught paths, see Film School vs Self-Taught. To plan a student film production budget, use the Budget Breakdown. For festival submission strategy, see Film Festival Strategy.
