Imagined in 2007, then started from scratch in 2014 for an opening initially planned for 2018, the project of a Cannes university will have taken its time. Not to mention that the site was also delayed, then complicated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fourteen years later, therefore, the Georges-Mélies campus was finally inaugurated on Monday “in homage to the great genius of cinema”. The site mainly offers training “dedicated to the writing and image professions”, for aspiring screenwriters. In total, 35 courses from DUT to doctorate (bac + 8) are offered in the west of the city. With 1,010 students registered for this very first school year.
🔴 @davidlisnard inaugurated the Georges Méliès University Campus and the Business Hotel on the Bastide Rouge site, in the presence of @VidalFrederique, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, and @brisswalter, President of @Univ_CotedAzur ⤵ pic.twitter.com/M3X9O65pWF
– Cannes (@villecannes) October 5, 2021
“This site is the site for training the creators of tomorrow, supporting project leaders and the emergence of new content”, praised the LR mayor of Cannes David Lisnard.
Students and companies in the same building
With a direct dive into the world of work. In the imposing 8,145 m² building, 4,445 m² are dedicated to the campus. The rest goes to a city of companies which “already hosts thirteen companies in the audiovisual field”, to facilitate a certain “cross-fertilization”, specifies the city of Cannes.
In addition to the classic lecture halls, the Cannes university opens to its students “premises for the entire audiovisual production chain”, argues the town hall. With four recording studios, a set equipped with a shared control room, a film set, nine editing rooms, a radio studio, a film club and a stage manager’s office.
The University School of Creates research (for Creation, transition, emergences) of the University of the Côte d’Azur offers in particular a doctorate in “New creative writings” or even Masters in “Arts”, in “creative writings, scenarios and narration ”and“ sound design and music on screen ”. “There will be a lot of practice and outside speakers,” explains Jean François Trubert, director of Creates. We will have in particular the visit of the composers of the film Guardians of the Galaxy and we have a partnership with Dolby. »The partnership a time evoked with the University of California at Los Angeles, the famous UCLA, however, did not happen.
Journalism, video games, TikTok and dance
The Cannes campus aims to cast a wider net. It also hosts a Master in “communication and political language” and an unprecedented training in collaboration with the social network Tiktok. The Nice Graduate School of Audiovisual Production (ESRA) is also setting up in the building, which also sees “switch all those who were already in Cannes”, explains Jean Christophe Boisse, director of the IUT Côte d’Azur. And that makes a lot of people. The majority even, of the 1,010 students welcomed, or around 600.
The training courses in journalism and communication, but also in commerce and tourism which were located on rue de Cannes, a few kilometers away, are also integrated into the new building. Like those related to video games. Even the Cannes Rosella Hightower School of Dance will offer a two-year dance teacher diploma there.
In addition to a library and a university restaurant, a new student residence is being built in the immediate vicinity. This establishment, managed by the CROUS and with 172 housing units, should be delivered in August 2022, for the next school year, the city promises. An additional 13.1 million euros project which is added to the 32.25 million envelope already used for the campus.