FAMU (Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague)

Overview

FAMU (Filmova a televizni fakulta Akademie muzickych umeni v Praze) is the film and television faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. Founded in 1946, it ranks as the fifth oldest film school in the world and the oldest in Europe. The school occupies a building in the Mala Strana district, within walking distance of Prague's historic center. FAMU is a full member of CILECT (the International Association of Film and Television Schools).

Prague has become a major European production hub. Barrandov Studios, located in the city, hosts international productions year-round, and the Czech Republic offers a 20% cash rebate on eligible production spending through the Czech Film Fund. This creates direct professional opportunities for FAMU students during and after their studies.

FAMU's curriculum prioritizes artistic vision, personal expression, and intellectual engagement with cinema over commercial production training. The school draws on the traditions of Czech cinema, including the Czech New Wave of the 1960s, while maintaining contemporary approaches and international perspectives. Students who want to develop as auteur filmmakers within the European art cinema tradition will find FAMU aligned with their goals. Those seeking Hollywood-oriented commercial training should look elsewhere.

Programs Offered

FAMU offers both Czech-language and English-language programs. International students typically apply through FAMU International.

English-Language Master's Programs (3 years)

• Directing Cinema and Digital Media - 550,000 CZK per year (approximately 22,700 EUR)
• Cinematography - 490,000 CZK per year (approximately 20,200 EUR)
• Montage (Editing) - 300,000 CZK per year (approximately 12,400 EUR)

One-Year Intensive Program (Academy Preparation Program)

A non-degree intensive course with full credited curriculum and ECTS summary. Students receive a certificate at completion. Production costs of practical exercises are covered in the tuition fee.

• Screenwriting - 10,990 EUR (VAT included)
• Directing Fiction - 24,490 EUR (VAT included)
• Documentary and Non-fiction - 18,990 EUR (VAT included)
• Cinematography - 22,490 EUR (VAT included)
• Editing and Creative Post-production - 14,990 EUR (VAT included)
• Photography - 10,500 EUR (VAT included)
• Animated Film - 17,990 EUR (VAT included)
• Introduction to Film Sound - 11,990 EUR (VAT included)

Summer Filmmaking Campus (2026)

• Early bird - 6,390 EUR (VAT included)
• Regular admission - 6,790 EUR (VAT included)

Czech-Language Programs

FAMU also offers BA and MA programs in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, sound design, documentary film, animation, and producing. These programs are taught in Czech and follow the same rigorous standards as the English-language tracks.

Facilities and Equipment

FAMU operates Studio FAMU, a dedicated production and post-production facility that underwent a full reconstruction between 2015 and 2020.

Production facilities:

• Studio "A" (110 m2) and Studio "B" (70 m2) with make-up and dressing rooms
• Own rental department for camera, lighting, grip, and sound equipment

Post-production:

• 2 DaVinci Resolve grading suites with Avid editing and Adobe CC
• 4 Avid digital editing rooms with Adobe CC and DaVinci Resolve
• 2 ProTools sound editing rooms
• 1 TV mixing room for 5.1 sound and sound directing
• 1 film mixing room with Dolby Atmos, 7.1, and 5.1 capability

Film facilities:

• 3 16mm film editing rooms
• 1 16/35mm dual-format editing room

Screening:

• Reference screening room with 115 seats, 4 screens, DaVinci Hybrid grading, ProTools Dolby Atmos mixing, Kinoton 16/35mm projectors, and a 4K Christie digital projector. This room is certified for nitrate film screenings.

Data infrastructure:

• Central data storage running on Quantum Storenext

Admission and Application

Master's Programs

• Application deadline: January 23, 2026 (for the 2026/2027 academic year)
• Programs begin in September

One-Year Intensive Program

• Application deadline: April 29, 2026
• Programs begin in September

FAMU accepts small cohorts, typically 6 to 10 students per department per year. The school does not have a regular scholarship program or installment payment infrastructure. Students seeking financial support are directed to institutions in their home countries, including Czech Government Scholarships.

Cost of Living in Prague

Prague remains one of the most affordable European capital cities for students. Estimated monthly costs:

• Shared 3-bedroom flat - approximately 30,000 CZK per month (about 1,240 EUR) including utilities
• 1-bedroom apartment - approximately 14,000 CZK per month (about 580 EUR) plus variable fees for gas, electricity, and housekeeping
• Agency deposits typically run 2 months' rent in advance

Electricity is 220V with standard European two-pin plugs. North American and UK students need adapters.

Standout Faculty

FAMU's faculty are working Czech and international filmmakers and cinematographers, with the school's Department of Cinematography being particularly renowned.

• prof. Mgr. Jaroslav Brabec - Head of Department of Cinematography. Director and cameraman. Credits include Director of Photography on Angel Face (2003), A Hoof Here, A Hoof There (1988, dir. Vera Chytilová), and Why? (1987). Teaches film image coloring, dramaturgy of cinematography, and practical exercises.
• prof. MgA. Marek Jícha - Professor of Cinematography, President of the Association of Czech Cinematographers. Teaches film language from the cinematographer's perspective, digital cinematographic image processing, and specialized seminars.
• prof. Michael Gahut - Mentor and teacher, cinematographer. Director of Photography on feature films, TV dramas, documentaries, and commercials. Teaches Camera Technique Seminars for international students.
• RNDr. MgA. Alice Růžičková - Head of Department of Documentary Film. Documentary director and dramaturge. Credits include Otto Placht - malíř džungle (1999), EXPRMNTL KBH (2000), and Biostruktury. Teaches documentary production, assembly workshops, and teaching practice.
• prof. doc. Mgr. Petr Jarchovský - Professor of Screenwriting and Dramaturgy. Screenwriter known for collaboration with director Jan Hřebejk. Credits include Musíme si pomáhat (2000) and Želary (2003, Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film). Teaches screenwriting and script development.

Notable Alumni

FAMU's alumni roster spans multiple generations of Central and Eastern European cinema:

• Milos Forman - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Amadeus (1984). Two-time Academy Award winner for Best Director.

• Agnieszka Holland - In Darkness (2011), Green Border (2023). Academy Award nominee.

• Jiri Menzel - Closely Watched Trains (1966). Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film.
• Vera Chytilova - Daisies (1966). Pioneer of Czech avant-garde cinema.
• Jan Svěrák - Kolya (1996). Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film.
• Emir Kusturica - Underground (1995), Black Cat, White Cat (1998). Two-time Palme d'Or winner at Cannes.
• Ivan Passer - Cutter's Way (1981). Key figure in the Czech New Wave.
• Jan Svankmajer - Surrealist animator and filmmaker. Influenced Tim Burton and the Quay Brothers.
• Milan Kundera - Studied film direction and screenwriting at FAMU before becoming one of the most translated Czech writers in the world.

What Students Should Know

FAMU's English-language programs through FAMU International attract applicants from across Europe, North America, and Asia. These programs follow the same standards as the Czech-language tracks and provide full access to Studio FAMU facilities and equipment.

The school's approach is deeply European. It prioritizes artistic vision, personal expression, and intellectual engagement with cinema. Students study world cinema extensively alongside their production work. The screening program exposes students to films from across global cinema traditions.

Tuition for the English-language Master's programs ranges from 300,000 CZK to 550,000 CZK per year (approximately 12,400 to 22,700 EUR). The one-year intensive programs range from 10,990 EUR to 24,490 EUR. These figures are significantly lower than comparable programs in the UK or US. Combined with Prague's low cost of living, FAMU offers one of the most affordable paths to a film education from a school of this caliber.

Fees include all shooting, exercise, and workshop budgets. Part of the tuition is allocated as a production budget for external costs such as location fees, actors, and props. Fees do not include health insurance, boarding, or lodging.

Student Film Examples

FAMU student films are hosted on the school's proprietary VOD platform, FAMU Films (famufilms.cz), with over 800 films available. The school also maintains a Vimeo channel. Recent award-winning student films include Zmáčknutý (2021, dir. Teodor Matejovič) and Dobrá smrt (2018, dir. Tomáš Krupa). FAMU student films are not primarily distributed on YouTube.

See Also

For understanding European film financing and co-production structures, see International Film Markets. To explore cinematography fundamentals taught across European film schools, use the Depth of Field Calculator. For planning your production budget in the Czech Republic, use the Production Budget Calculator.