CILECT (Centre International de Liaison des Ecoles de Cinéma et de Télévision)

Overview

CILECT (Centre International de Liaison des Ecoles de Cinema et de Television) is the global association of film and television schools. Founded in 1955 in Cannes at the initiative of Marcel L'Herbier and Remy Tessonneau of IDHEC (now La Femis), CILECT was created by representatives from film schools in France, Italy, Poland, Spain, the UK, the US, and the USSR. The organization brings together more than 180 member institutions from over 60 countries across six continents. These schools collectively employ more than 11,000 teachers and staff, train approximately 90,000 students annually, and connect to an alumni network exceeding 1.6 million members.

CILECT is not a degree-granting body or an accreditation agency. It is a membership federation that facilitates collaboration, research, and creative exchange between film schools. The organization advocates for high educational standards in film and media training, promotes dialogue between educators and the global screen industries, and provides a platform for member schools to share pedagogical approaches and institutional best practices. The current president is Manuel Jose Damasio, elected by representatives from 68 film schools worldwide.

Membership Structure and Costs

CILECT offers several membership categories. Full Members are established film, television, and related media schools that have undergone a rigorous candidacy process. Associate Members are institutions in development or organizations related to film education. Partner Members include industry organizations, festivals, and other entities connected to film education.

Full Membership Candidacy Process:

1. A school applies to the Executive Director with documentation including institutional profile, curriculum, faculty qualifications, facilities, and student work
2. The Executive Council reviews the application and, if requirements are met, authorizes a site visit by a CILECT representative
3. The representative conducts an on-site assessment and submits a report to the Executive Council
4. If the report is favorable, the Executive Council proposes the school for Full Membership at the next General Assembly
5. The school becomes a Candidate Member until the General Assembly vote
6. Full Members are admitted by open ballot at the General Assembly, requiring a majority of at least one half plus one of Full Members present
7. The school's presence at the General Assembly during candidacy is mandatory

Fees:

• Non-refundable assessment fee: 1,200 EUR
• Full Membership annual fee: 1,600 EUR

Regional Structure

CILECT operates through five regional divisions that organize activities, conferences, and collaborations within their geographic scope:

• CNA (CILECT North America): Members include AFI Conservatory, USC School of Cinematic Arts, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Columbia University, CalArts, and other leading North American programs
• GEECT (European Grouping of Film and Television Schools): 93 member schools across 34 countries, including La Femis (France), NFTS (UK), HFF Munich (Germany), FAMU (Czech Republic), Lodz Film School (Poland), and Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia (Italy)
• CAPA (CILECT Asia Pacific Association): Members include Beijing Film Academy, Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA), Tokyo Zokei University, and FTII Pune (India)
• CARA (CILECT Africa Regional Association): Members include ESAV Marrakech and NAFTI (Ghana)
• CIBA (CILECT Ibero-America): Members include CUEC (Mexico), DAE (Argentina), and UniRio (Brazil)

CILECT Congress and Programs

The CILECT Congress is the organization's flagship event, held annually. Recent and upcoming congresses include:

• CILECT Congress 2025: Held October 27-31, 2025, at Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico. The congress addressed the questions "What films to make?", "For whom to make them?", and "Why make them?" with sessions on ethics and responsibility in film education, training students to consider social impact, and curricular redesign for diverse and inclusive narratives.
• CILECT Congress 2026: Scheduled for October 27-31, 2026, at IADT (Institute of Art, Design and Technology) in Dublin, Ireland. Titled "Film Education: ReMastered," the congress coincides with the FilmEU Industry Summit, creating dialogue opportunities between educators, filmmakers, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders. A call for proposals is open, with the International Journal of Film and Media Arts (IJFMA) accepting paper contributions.

CILECT also facilitates student exchange programs between member schools, enabling film students to spend periods at institutions in other countries. These exchanges provide exposure to different filmmaking traditions, production cultures, and educational approaches while building international professional relationships.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For aspiring filmmakers evaluating film schools, CILECT membership is a quality indicator. Member schools have passed through a candidacy process that includes institutional review, site visits, and a General Assembly vote. The process assesses curriculum quality, faculty qualifications, facilities, and student work. A school's CILECT membership signals that it meets international standards for professional film education and participates in the global community of film educators.

For film educators and school administrators, CILECT provides the international network for continuous improvement in film education delivery. The annual Congress, regional meetings, and scholarly publications (including IJFMA) connect educators from different traditions and institutional models. The 1,600 EUR annual fee is modest relative to the access it provides to a global network of 180+ schools.

For industry professionals, CILECT's alumni network of 1.6 million members represents a significant talent pipeline. Many graduates of CILECT member schools go on to join professional organizations including the Directors Guild of America, BAFTA, FERA, and national guilds across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Notable Member Institutions and Alumni

CILECT brings together more than 180 member institutions from over 60 countries across six continents, including La Femis (France), NFTS (UK), USC School of Cinematic Arts (US), NYU Tisch (US), FAMU (Czech Republic), Lodz Film School (Poland), VGIK (Russia), Beijing Film Academy (China), and many others. These schools collectively employ more than 11,000 teachers and staff, train approximately 90,000 students annually, and connect to an alumni network exceeding 1.6 million members. CILECT member school graduates go on to join professional organizations including the Directors Guild of America, BAFTA, FERA, and national guilds across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The Warsaw Film School, a CILECT member institution, exemplifies the practical film education approach with industry professionals like Marek Brodzki on faculty. The current president is Manuel Jose Damasio, elected by representatives from 68 film schools worldwide.

What Makes a Member School Competitive

Full Membership candidacy requires a rigorous process: a school applies to the Executive Director with documentation including institutional profile, curriculum, faculty qualifications, facilities, and student work; the Executive Council reviews the application and authorizes a site visit by a CILECT representative; the representative conducts an on-site assessment and submits a report; if favorable, the Executive Council proposes the school for Full Membership at the next General Assembly; the school becomes a Candidate Member until the General Assembly vote; Full Members are admitted by open ballot requiring a majority of at least one half plus one of Full Members present. The school's presence at the General Assembly during candidacy is mandatory. Annual fees are 1,600 EUR for Full Members. CILECT membership signals that a school meets international standards for professional film education and participates in the global community of film educators.

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See Also

For major individual member schools, see American Film Institute (AFI) in this directory. For the production professional organizations that CILECT graduates join, see Directors Guild of America and BAFTA in this directory. Use the Film School Comparison Tool to evaluate educational programs.