Successful launch of the inclusive Provence Campus cinema association in Martigues

Diverse training programs to facilitate entry into the film sector and strengthen international cooperation

There was a full house on May 27 for the official launch of the Provence Campus non-profit film association. Located at the heart of Provence Studios in Martigues outside of Marseille, the Provence Campus will serve as a training center for people seeking to enter cinema and audiovisual professions. Operating in direct partnership with the film industry, it will create an inter-school network focusing on inclusion and diversity. This dynamic initiative is led by the association’s director, Marine Plagne, who is passionate about improving training and creating opportunities by fostering collaborations between French and international schools. Seven French schools have already joined the effort and a global education delegation interested in the project was present at the inauguration. To mark the occasion, Provence Promotion, which supports Provence Campus in its international development, presented Marine Plagne with an Invest in Provence award.

Uniting people around a new vision for training, Provence Campus is a positive impact project that will boost Aix-Marseille-Provence’s film industry and enhance the territory’s economic appeal.

Supported by local governments, notably the City of Martigues and the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis, the Provence Campus is the latest addition to the Provence Studios film studio ecosystem in Martigues. Marine Plagne, who has come from the north of France to manage the non-profit association, heads up the project. Her ambition is to create a space for dialogue, learning, and co-creation that brings together students, teachers, and professionals in the film and audiovisual industries. The project also aims to promote and facilitate international exchanges.

With its shared values of open and accessible education and global opportunities, Provence Campus is an ideal addition to Provence Studios and will complement the work of the site’s many partners  (Provence Costumes, Provence Décoration, La Planète Rouge, Maratier, etc.).

Provence Promotion, Aix-Marseille’s economic development agency, is supporting Provence Campus by providing guidance and international contacts. This includes identifying and welcoming potential partners. Toronto Metropolitan University, one of the partners interested in the venture, has already visited the territory. At the inauguration ceremony, Philippe Stéfanini, the CEO of Provence Promotion, honored Provence Campus by awarding Marine Plagne with the Invest in Provence award.

A unique summer program in Provence to nurture new film and audiovisual talent

Seven local schools have agreed to work on joint projects at the Provence Campus: Kourtrajme, Ph'Art et Balises, SATIS from Aix-Marseille University, Les Ateliers de l'Image et du Son (AIS), 3iS Education, Vatos Locos Vidéo, and Collectif La Réplique. To encourage collaboration with top schools outside of France, the association is organizing an annual international seminar to be held at Provence Studios, with the first edition scheduled for the summer of 2025.

The inauguration of the Provence Campus, which was timed for just after the Cannes Film Festival, was the chance to welcome a delegation of teachers and film professionals from abroad who were attracted by the opportunities for cooperation offered. This first delegation, which was made up of 17 representatives from various countries (Canada, United States, Spain, Morocco, etc.), met with the partner schools and visited their premises while also touring emblematic film studio sites such as Provence Studios and the Friche Belle de Mai to discover the facilities and vast selection of outdoor sets.

With this international seminar, Provence Campus aims to consolidate the territory’s position on the international stage. The goal is to attract talent and professionals from all over the world to contribute to the growth of the rapidly expanding culture and creative industries sector in the South of France.

To support the Provence Campus, you can visit this page (in French):  https://www.helloasso.com/associations/provence-campus/adhesions/cotisation-2024