Film and TV School (FAMU)

Film and TV School (FAMU) is an integral part of The Academy of Performing Arts, which was founded after World War II, in 1947. It is the fifth oldest film school in the world. Its graduates include many influential filmmakers and scriptwriters, many known within international contexts such as Oscar winners or laureates of international film festivals. In addition, most people working in the Czech Republic’s film and TV industry in artistic or production positions, as well as still-photographers in various media are graduates from FAMU.

The 1960s was perhaps the most brilliant period in the history of both Czech cinema and FAMU. The students and professors offered the most progressive and challenging ideas to the overall social discourse of the time. After the occupation of Czechoslovakia in August 1968 several FAMU professors and graduates had to leave the country. Some of them contributed to the development of film art and industry in the world and played significant roles in the development of film education. After the fall of communism in Europe, FAMU maintained its status as the national film school but at the same time opened its gates for international students from all over the World.
FAMU is a founding member of CILECT (World association of film schools), of the European League of Institutes of Arts (ELIA), and of the European Association of Cinema and Television Schools GEECT. Works by its graduates have received many awards at international festivals and have often been co-produced with domestic television networks and broadcast over the nation.

STUDIES AT FAMU = FILMMAKING + WRITING + ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES
FAMU International has various programs in English, from one to six week summer workshops to one semester programs organized abroad to one year programs to full master degree programs. Generally speaking, each program consists of a varying proportion of practical filmmaking with assistance, writing skills connected to practical processes and academic disciplines related to the audiovisual field with their reflections and methodologies. Each program has different conditions for admission. Some shorter programs (usually the one semester or summer workshop programs) are based on contracts with particular universities or academic agencies. These programs are run by FAMU regarding curricular matters, but admissions are administered by the particular university or academic agency (CIEE or CET) with whom FAMU is contracted.

This section of our website gives complete information on the characteristic of each program and links to section for applicants, where you can find information on admissions.

Studying at FAMU means also spending your lifetime in the heart one of the most beautiful cities in the world.Prague is home to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of twentieth century Europe. Main attractions include the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, the Jewish Quarter, the Lennon Wall, and Petřín hill. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. On the other hand, Prague has also many different faces, former industrial parts, many suburbs with a variety of styles including huge urban spaces with panel houses from the communist time, civic architecture from whole range of 19th and 20th century, many parks etc.