diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index 86fdf7caa..0b841015e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 * 1.26.0 (2016-XX-XX)
 
+ * allowed filters/functions/tests implementation to use a different class than the extension they belong to
  * deprecated Twig_ExtensionInterface::getName()
 
 * 1.25.0 (2016-09-21)
diff --git a/doc/advanced.rst b/doc/advanced.rst
index 6c7c2d1d1..441450b01 100644
--- a/doc/advanced.rst
+++ b/doc/advanced.rst
@@ -136,7 +136,13 @@ Creating a filter is as simple as associating a name with a PHP callable::
     // or a simple PHP function
     $filter = new Twig_SimpleFilter('rot13', 'str_rot13');
 
+    // or a class static method
+    $filter = new Twig_SimpleFilter('rot13', array('SomeClass', 'rot13Filter'));
+    $filter = new Twig_SimpleFilter('rot13', 'SomeClass::rot13Filter');
+
     // or a class method
+    $filter = new Twig_SimpleFilter('rot13', array($this, 'rot13Filter'));
+    // the one below needs a runtime implementation (see below for more information)
     $filter = new Twig_SimpleFilter('rot13', array('SomeClass', 'rot13Filter'));
 
 The first argument passed to the ``Twig_SimpleFilter`` constructor is the name
@@ -525,10 +531,6 @@ reusable class like adding support for internationalization. An extension can
 define tags, filters, tests, operators, global variables, functions, and node
 visitors.
 
-Creating an extension also makes for a better separation of code that is
-executed at compilation time and code needed at runtime. As such, it makes
-your code faster.
-
 Most of the time, it is useful to create a single extension for your project,
 to host all the specific tags and filters you want to add to Twig.
 
@@ -646,7 +648,7 @@ main ``Environment`` object::
 
 .. tip::
 
-    The bundled extensions are great examples of how extensions work.
+    The Twig core extensions are great examples of how extensions work.
 
 Globals
 ~~~~~~~
@@ -765,6 +767,101 @@ The ``getTests()`` method lets you add new test functions::
         // ...
     }
 
+Definition vs Runtime
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Twig filters, functions, and tests runtime implementations can be defined as
+any valid PHP callable:
+
+* **functions/static methods**: Simple to implement and fast (used by all Twig
+  core extensions); but it is hard for the runtime to depend on external
+  objects;
+
+* **closures**: Simple to implement;
+
+* **object methods**: More flexible and required if your runtime code depends
+  on external objects.
+
+The simplest way to use methods is to define them on the extension itself::
+
+    class Project_Twig_Extension extends Twig_Extension
+    {
+        private $rot13Provider;
+
+        public function __construct($rot13Provider)
+        {
+            $this->rot13Provider = $rot13Provider;
+        }
+
+        public function getFunctions()
+        {
+            return array(
+                new Twig_SimpleFunction('rot13', array($this, 'rot13')),
+            );
+        }
+
+        public function rot13($value)
+        {
+            return $rot13Provider->rot13($value);
+        }
+    }
+
+This is very convenient but not recommended as it makes template compilation
+depend on runtime dependencies even if they are not needed (think for instance
+as a dependency that connects to a database engine).
+
+As of Twig 1.26, you can easily decouple the extension definitions from their
+runtime implementations by registering a ``Twig_RuntimeLoaderInterface``
+instance on the environment that knows how to instantiate such runtime classes
+(runtime classes must be autoload-able)::
+
+    class RuntimeLoader implements Twig_RuntimeLoaderInterface
+    {
+        public function load($class)
+        {
+            // implement the logic to create an instance of $class
+            // and inject its dependencies
+            // most of the time, it means using your dependency injection container
+            if ('Project_Twig_RuntimeExtension' === $class) {
+                return new $class(new Rot13Provider());
+            } else {
+                // ...
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    $twig->addRuntimeLoader(new RuntimeLoader());
+
+It is now possible to move the runtime logic to a new
+``Project_Twig_RuntimeExtension`` class and use it directly in the extension::
+
+    class Project_Twig_RuntimeExtension extends Twig_Extension
+    {
+        private $rot13Provider;
+
+        public function __construct($rot13Provider)
+        {
+            $this->rot13Provider = $rot13Provider;
+        }
+
+        public function rot13($value)
+        {
+            return $rot13Provider->rot13($value);
+        }
+    }
+
+    class Project_Twig_Extension extends Twig_Extension
+    {
+        public function getFunctions()
+        {
+            return array(
+                new Twig_SimpleFunction('rot13', array('Project_Twig_RuntimeExtension', 'rot13')),
+                // or
+                new Twig_SimpleFunction('rot13', 'Project_Twig_RuntimeExtension::rot13'),
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
 Overloading
 -----------
 
@@ -792,7 +889,7 @@ possible** (order matters)::
 
 Here, we have overloaded the built-in ``date`` filter with a custom one.
 
-If you do the same on the Twig_Environment itself, beware that it takes
+If you do the same on the ``Twig_Environment`` itself, beware that it takes
 precedence over any other registered extensions::
 
     $twig = new Twig_Environment($loader);
diff --git a/lib/Twig/Environment.php b/lib/Twig/Environment.php
index 4f169481a..9a4b4e2f8 100644
--- a/lib/Twig/Environment.php
+++ b/lib/Twig/Environment.php
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ class Twig_Environment
     private $bcWriteCacheFile = false;
     private $bcGetCacheFilename = false;
     private $lastModifiedExtension = 0;
-    private $legacyExtensionNames = array();
+    private $runtimeLoaders = array();
+    private $runtimes = array();
 
     /**
      * Constructor.
@@ -786,6 +787,14 @@ class Twig_Environment
         return isset($this->extensions[ltrim($class, '\\')]);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Adds a runtime loader.
+     */
+    public function addRuntimeLoader(Twig_RuntimeLoaderInterface $loader)
+    {
+        $this->runtimeLoaders[] = $loader;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Gets an extension by class name.
      *
@@ -809,6 +818,28 @@ class Twig_Environment
         return $this->extensions[$class];
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the runtime implementation of a Twig element (filter/function/test).
+     *
+     * @param string $class A runtime class name
+     *
+     * @return object The runtime implementation
+     */
+    public function getRuntime($class)
+    {
+        if (isset($this->runtimes[$class])) {
+            return $this->runtimes[$class];
+        }
+
+        foreach ($this->runtimeLoaders as $loader) {
+            if (null !== $runtime = $loader->load($class)) {
+                return $this->runtimes[$class] = $runtime;
+            }
+        }
+
+        throw new \Exception(sprintf('Unable to load the "%s" runtime.', $class));
+    }
+
     /**
      * Registers an extension.
      *
diff --git a/lib/Twig/Node/Expression/Call.php b/lib/Twig/Node/Expression/Call.php
index ef58f5e11..224c22dc4 100644
--- a/lib/Twig/Node/Expression/Call.php
+++ b/lib/Twig/Node/Expression/Call.php
@@ -10,18 +10,29 @@
  */
 abstract class Twig_Node_Expression_Call extends Twig_Node_Expression
 {
+    private $reflector;
+
     protected function compileCallable(Twig_Compiler $compiler)
     {
         $closingParenthesis = false;
         if ($this->hasAttribute('callable') && $callable = $this->getAttribute('callable')) {
-            if (is_string($callable)) {
+            if (is_string($callable) && false === strpos($callable, '::')) {
                 $compiler->raw($callable);
-            } elseif (is_array($callable) && $callable[0] instanceof Twig_ExtensionInterface) {
-                $compiler->raw(sprintf('$this->env->getExtension(\'%s\')->%s', get_class($callable[0]), $callable[1]));
             } else {
-                $type = ucfirst($this->getAttribute('type'));
-                $compiler->raw(sprintf('call_user_func_array($this->env->get%s(\'%s\')->getCallable(), array', $type, $this->getAttribute('name')));
-                $closingParenthesis = true;
+                list($r, $callable) = $this->reflectCallable($callable);
+                if ($r instanceof ReflectionMethod && is_string($callable[0])) {
+                    if ($r->isStatic()) {
+                        $compiler->raw(sprintf('%s::%s', $callable[0], $callable[1]));
+                    } else {
+                        $compiler->raw(sprintf('$this->env->getRuntime(\'%s\')->%s', $callable[0], $callable[1]));
+                    }
+                } elseif ($r instanceof ReflectionMethod && $callable[0] instanceof Twig_ExtensionInterface) {
+                    $compiler->raw(sprintf('$this->env->getExtension(\'%s\')->%s', get_class($callable[0]), $callable[1]));
+                } else {
+                    $type = ucfirst($this->getAttribute('type'));
+                    $compiler->raw(sprintf('call_user_func_array($this->env->get%s(\'%s\')->getCallable(), array', $type, $this->getAttribute('name')));
+                    $closingParenthesis = true;
+                }
             }
         } else {
             $compiler->raw($this->getAttribute('thing')->compile());
@@ -121,7 +132,6 @@ abstract class Twig_Node_Expression_Call extends Twig_Node_Expression
             throw new LogicException($message);
         }
 
-        // manage named arguments
         $callableParameters = $this->getCallableParameters($callable, $isVariadic);
         $arguments = array();
         $names = array();
@@ -208,16 +218,7 @@ abstract class Twig_Node_Expression_Call extends Twig_Node_Expression
 
     private function getCallableParameters($callable, $isVariadic)
     {
-        if (is_array($callable)) {
-            $r = new ReflectionMethod($callable[0], $callable[1]);
-        } elseif (is_object($callable) && !$callable instanceof Closure) {
-            $r = new ReflectionObject($callable);
-            $r = $r->getMethod('__invoke');
-        } elseif (is_string($callable) && false !== strpos($callable, '::')) {
-            $r = new ReflectionMethod($callable);
-        } else {
-            $r = new ReflectionFunction($callable);
-        }
+        list($r, $_) = $this->reflectCallable($callable);
 
         $parameters = $r->getParameters();
         if ($this->hasNode('node')) {
@@ -250,4 +251,26 @@ abstract class Twig_Node_Expression_Call extends Twig_Node_Expression
 
         return $parameters;
     }
+
+    private function reflectCallable($callable)
+    {
+        if (null !== $this->reflector) {
+            return $this->reflector;
+        }
+
+        if (is_array($callable)) {
+            $r = new ReflectionMethod($callable[0], $callable[1]);
+        } elseif (is_object($callable) && !$callable instanceof Closure) {
+            $r = new ReflectionObject($callable);
+            $r = $r->getMethod('__invoke');
+            $callable = array($callable, '__invoke');
+        } elseif (is_string($callable) && false !== $pos = strpos($callable, '::')) {
+            $r = new ReflectionMethod($callable);
+            $callable = array(substr($callable, 0, $pos), substr($callable, $pos + 2));
+        } else {
+            $r = new ReflectionFunction($callable);
+        }
+
+        return $this->reflector = array($r, $callable);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/lib/Twig/RuntimeLoaderInterface.php b/lib/Twig/RuntimeLoaderInterface.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c41f44af9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/Twig/RuntimeLoaderInterface.php
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+<?php
+
+/*
+ * This file is part of Twig.
+ *
+ * (c) Fabien Potencier
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * Creates runtime implementations for Twig elements (filters/functions/tests).
+ *
+ * @author Fabien Potencier <fabien@symfony.com>
+ */
+interface Twig_RuntimeLoaderInterface
+{
+    /**
+     * Creates the runtime implementation of a Twig element (filter/function/test).
+     *
+     * @param string $class A runtime class
+     *
+     * @return object|null The runtime instance or null if the loader does not know how to create the runtime for this class
+     */
+    public function load($class);
+}
diff --git a/test/Twig/Tests/EnvironmentTest.php b/test/Twig/Tests/EnvironmentTest.php
index 67cd5c297..ce33fcf99 100644
--- a/test/Twig/Tests/EnvironmentTest.php
+++ b/test/Twig/Tests/EnvironmentTest.php
@@ -396,6 +396,32 @@ EOF
         restore_error_handler();
     }
 
+    public function testAddRuntimeLoader()
+    {
+        $runtimeLoader = $this->getMockBuilder('Twig_RuntimeLoaderInterface')->getMock();
+        $runtimeLoader->expects($this->any())->method('load')->will($this->returnValue(new Twig_Tests_EnvironmentTest_Runtime()));
+
+        $loader = new Twig_Loader_Array(array(
+            'func_array' => '{{ from_runtime_array("foo") }}',
+            'func_array_default' => '{{ from_runtime_array() }}',
+            'func_array_named_args' => '{{ from_runtime_array(name="foo") }}',
+            'func_string' => '{{ from_runtime_string("foo") }}',
+            'func_string_default' => '{{ from_runtime_string() }}',
+            'func_string_named_args' => '{{ from_runtime_string(name="foo") }}',
+        ));
+
+        $twig = new Twig_Environment($loader);
+        $twig->addExtension(new Twig_Tests_EnvironmentTest_ExtensionWithoutRuntime());
+        $twig->addRuntimeLoader($runtimeLoader);
+
+        $this->assertEquals('foo', $twig->render('func_array'));
+        $this->assertEquals('bar', $twig->render('func_array_default'));
+        $this->assertEquals('foo', $twig->render('func_array_named_args'));
+        $this->assertEquals('foo', $twig->render('func_string'));
+        $this->assertEquals('bar', $twig->render('func_string_default'));
+        $this->assertEquals('foo', $twig->render('func_string_named_args'));
+    }
+
     protected function getMockLoader($templateName, $templateContent)
     {
         $loader = $this->getMockBuilder('Twig_LoaderInterface')->getMock();
@@ -526,3 +552,27 @@ class Twig_Tests_EnvironmentTest_ExtensionWithoutDeprecationInitRuntime extends
     {
     }
 }
+
+class Twig_Tests_EnvironmentTest_ExtensionWithoutRuntime extends Twig_Extension
+{
+    public function getFunctions()
+    {
+        return array(
+            new Twig_SimpleFunction('from_runtime_array', array('Twig_Tests_EnvironmentTest_Runtime', 'fromRuntime')),
+            new Twig_SimpleFunction('from_runtime_string', 'Twig_Tests_EnvironmentTest_Runtime::fromRuntime'),
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function getName()
+    {
+        return 'from_runtime';
+    }
+}
+
+class Twig_Tests_EnvironmentTest_Runtime
+{
+    public function fromRuntime($name = 'bar')
+    {
+        return $name;
+    }
+}