ESCAC (Film and Audiovisual School of Catalonia)

Overview

ESCAC (Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya) is the leading film school in Catalonia, located in the city of Terrassa, approximately 20 miles north of Barcelona. Founded in 1994, ESCAC has built a reputation as one of the strongest film schools in Spain, combining rigorous production training with a theoretical foundation in film history and analysis.

The school's in-house production company, ESCAC Films, produces and markets student work, giving films professional distribution support and festival representation. This structure bridges the gap between education and industry, and ESCAC student films regularly appear at international festivals including Berlin, San Sebastian, and Malaga.

ESCAC maintains partnerships with major Spanish and international industry players, including Warner Bros. Spain, Pedro Almodovar's El Deseo, and Telecinco Cinema. These relationships provide internship opportunities, mentorship, and employment pathways for graduates. The school also operates a one-year introductory filmmaking course taught in English, making it accessible to international students.

Programs Offered

• Degree in Filmmaking and Audiovisual Media -- a four-year undergraduate program with specializations in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, sound, producing, and art direction
• Master in Fiction Filmmaking -- graduate directing and writing
• Master in Documentary Filmmaking -- nonfiction production
• Master in Post-Production and Visual Effects -- technical post-production
• One-Year Course in Filmmaking -- an introductory program taught in English
• Stunt Academy -- a bilingual program in stunt performance and coordination

What Students Should Know

ESCAC's primary programs are taught in Catalan and Spanish. The one-year English-language course is designed for international students who want an intensive introduction to filmmaking in a European context. Students in the English program have access to the same facilities and some collaborative opportunities with students in the degree programs.

The ESCAC Films production company is a distinctive feature. Student thesis films and advanced projects receive professional production support, including festival submission strategy and distribution guidance. This support has resulted in ESCAC student films winning prizes at major festivals and receiving professional distribution.

Barcelona and the surrounding Catalan region have a vibrant production scene, with international productions increasingly shooting in the area. ESCAC graduates benefit from these local industry connections as well as the school's relationships with Madrid-based companies.

Tuition varies by program but is moderate by European private school standards. Barcelona's cost of living is lower than London or Paris but higher than many other European cities.

Notable Alumni

ESCAC alumni include Juan Antonio Bayona (director of The Impossible, A Monster Calls, and Society of the Snow), and numerous working professionals in Spanish and international film and television.

See Also

For understanding the Spanish and European film industries, see International Film Markets. To explore post-production workflows, use the Post-Production Timeline Calculator.