FilmCraft — Open-Source Video Editor (Free, Rust, NLE)
Who this is for: Editors and creators who need a real timeline editor for free — and want their editing pipeline to be scriptable.
Open-source nonlinear video editor in pure Rust — a free, clean-room take on the Premiere Pro workflow, scriptable and agent-native.
Quick answer: FilmCraft is a free, open-source nonlinear video editor in pure Rust — a clean-room take on the Premiere-style timeline workflow, part of the ArtCraft family. macOS/Windows/Linux plus browser, scriptable via CLI/JSON/MCP. Alpha stage: fine for real editing work, with professional-pipeline gaps documented by the project.
Official source — FilmCraft
getartcraft.com → the app's page → Download for desktop (Windows build)
- Download the Windows build from getartcraft.com (official source only).
- Run the installer or unzip the package — it is a native Rust binary, no runtime required.
- Open the app, create a document or open a real file (e.g. .psd in PhotoCraft, .svg in VectorCraft).
- No account, no signup, no subscription — the family has none.
GPU compositing runs through wgpu (DX12/Vulkan). A GPU with a supported driver helps; it is not mandatory.
Based on the project's stated rendering stack (wgpu: Metal/Vulkan/DX12/WebGPU; WASM browser builds). The project publishes no hard minimum specs.
| Replaces | Adobe Premiere Pro workflow |
|---|---|
| License | Open source |
| Status | Alpha |
| Platforms | macOS · Windows · Linux · Web |
| Price | Free, no subscription |
A nonlinear editor, rebuilt in Rust
FilmCraft is an open-source nonlinear video editor, part of the ArtCraft family, rebuilt in pure Rust. Like the rest of the family it is positioned as a clean-room replacement for a commercial tool — here, the Premiere-style timeline editing workflow — and ships natively for macOS, Windows and Linux with a WebAssembly browser build.
As with its sibling apps, the project exposes a headless CLI, a JSON control channel and an MCP server, so timeline work can be scripted and driven by AI agents.
Key facts at a glance
- Nonlinear timeline editing as an open-source, pure-Rust application
- Runs natively on macOS, Windows and Linux, plus a WebAssembly browser build
- Agent-native: CLI, JSON control channel and MCP server for scripting
- Part of the ArtCraft family — same installation, formats and community as PhotoCraft and friends
- Free with no subscription
Quick start — first five minutes
- Download FilmCraft from getartcraft.com (macOS, Windows, Linux) or launch the browser build — free, no subscription.
- Import clips and place them on the timeline — nonlinear editing with tracks, the familiar NLE model.
- Trim, split and arrange footage; use the render pipeline to preview.
- Script repetitive jobs (import batches, export queues) via the CLI or JSON control channel.
- Export your cut — and share project assets with the rest of the ArtCraft family.
Common uses
- Edit video on a free, open-source NLE without a Creative Cloud subscription
- Batch export jobs from the command line
- Let an AI agent assemble rough cuts through the JSON channel / MCP server
- Learn nonlinear editing on the same tool family as PhotoCraft
The same family, the same pipeline
FilmCraft shares the ArtCraft installation, formats and community with PhotoCraft, VectorCraft and the rest. If you already use PhotoCraft, FilmCraft inherits the same model: free, native, no subscription, scriptable. Assets and workflows move between the apps without the Adobe-family lock-in.
Scriptable timeline work
Timeline editing is normally the least automatable part of post-production. FilmCraft's CLI, JSON control channel and MCP server change that: import batches, render queues and rough-cut assembly can be driven by scripts or agents, which is the family's signature capability.
Honest gaps
Alpha-stage NLE. The project does not claim parity with Premiere Pro for professional post-production — expect missing production tools, third-party effect ecosystems and pipeline integrations. Check the project's own status notes for what is implemented before committing client work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FilmCraft free?
Is FilmCraft a full Premiere Pro replacement?
Can I automate editing?
More guides for this app
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EffectCraft in ten minutes: compositions, keyframes, 306 effects, expressions, 3D cameras and Lottie export — the AE workflow free.
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