CLCF, the Conservatoire Libre du Cinéma Français (open conservatory of French cinema), was established in 1963. A school of film and television, specializing in the use of sets and sound states, CLCF has four programs: directing, scriptwriting, editing, and screenplay-adaptation-dialogue.

CLCF counts among its alumni the producers, production professionals, and postproduction specialists who have made France's film and television industry what it is today. CLCF's international alumni are leaders in film and television in their home countries. The program, taught entirely in French, requires 3 years of study, but students may begin in the second year if they demonstrate a sufficiently high level of general education. CLCF students come from very different cultural backgrounds, with 18 to 22% coming from outside France, from countries on all continents.

To gain admission, applicants must offer evidence of a high level of motivation, achievement, initiative, and creativity. International applicants must meet the same admission standards as French students. A complete sound stage, a control booth, a prop warehouse, rehearsal studios, and a projection room are among the facilities made available to students. Traditional film editing (16 and 35 mm film) is taught alongside digital editing (Avid and Final Cut Pro). Students also have access to a computer room equipped with color printers, Internet access, and specialized software, as well as a library of basic works on film and a database of actors for use in casting.