storytold/filmcraft

What it solves

FilmCraft is an open-source, clean-room reimplementation of Adobe Premiere Pro's workflow, providing a professional non-linear video editor that is native to macOS, Windows, and Linux, and designed to run in the browser via WebAssembly. It eliminates reliance on third-party libraries like FFmpeg by implementing its own codecs and containers in pure Rust.

How it works

The project is built from the bitstream up in Rust, featuring a GPU compositor (via wgpu) that works in linear light and a time base using exact integer ticks to prevent edit drift. It implements its own decoders and encoders for formats like H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and AAC. The system is designed as a command-driven engine where every UI action is a command that can be dispatched via the UI, a CLI, a JSON control channel, or an MCP server.

Who it’s for

It is designed for video editors who are familiar with the Adobe Premiere Pro workflow (panels, shortcuts, and tools) and those who want an open-source, high-performance alternative that is agent-controllable.

Highlights

• Agent-Ready Architecture: Every action is a command, allowing AI agents (like Claude) to cut, trim, grade, and export video via an MCP server or JSON control channel.
• Pure Rust Implementation: Custom-written codecs (H.264, HEVC, ProRes, etc.) and containers, avoiding FFmpeg.
• Professional Grading: A complete Lumetri-style color grading panel with scopes, curves, and HSL secondaries.
• Comprehensive Toolset: Includes three-point editing, ripple/roll/slip/slide trims, a full video effects bin, and broadcast-standard loudness meters.
• Industry Interchange: Supports importing and exporting FCP XML, FCPXML, OpenTimelineIO, CMX 3600 EDL, AAF, and OMF 2.0.