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 is one of the oldest film schools in the world and the oldest in Europe. FAMU has played a central role in the development of Czech and Central European cinema, and its alumni include some of the most celebrated filmmakers of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The school occupies a building in the Mala Strana district of Prague, within walking distance of the city's historic center. FAMU's facilities include studios, editing rooms, screening rooms, and production equipment. Prague itself has become a major European production hub, with Barrandov Studios and numerous international productions operating in the city, which creates professional opportunities for students.

FAMU's curriculum blends artistic rigor with theoretical depth. The school draws on the traditions of Czech cinema, including the Czech New Wave movement of the 1960s, while remaining open to contemporary approaches and international perspectives. The school offers programs in Czech and in English, making it accessible to international students.

Programs Offered

• BA in Directing -- undergraduate narrative directing (Czech language)
• MA in Directing -- graduate directing program (Czech and English tracks)
• BA/MA in Screenwriting -- screenplay development (Czech language)
• BA/MA in Cinematography -- camera and lighting (Czech language)
• BA/MA in Editing -- editorial craft and post-production
• BA/MA in Sound Design -- production and post-production audio
• BA/MA in Documentary Film -- nonfiction filmmaking
• BA/MA in Animation -- animated filmmaking
• BA/MA in Producing -- film and television producing
• FAMU International -- English-language programs in directing and screenwriting open to international students
• One-Year Program -- an intensive introductory filmmaking course in English

What Students Should Know

FAMU's English-language programs through FAMU International make the school accessible to non-Czech-speaking students. The directing and screenwriting programs taught in English attract applicants from across Europe, North America, and Asia. These programs follow the same rigorous standards as the Czech-language tracks and provide full access to the school's facilities and resources.

FAMU's approach to filmmaking education is deeply European. The school prioritizes artistic vision, personal expression, and intellectual engagement with cinema over commercial production skills. Students who want to develop as auteur filmmakers and work within the European art cinema tradition will find FAMU an ideal environment. Those seeking Hollywood-oriented training should look elsewhere.

Tuition for international students in the English-language programs is approximately 8,000 to 10,000 euros per year, significantly lower than comparable programs in the UK or US. Prague's cost of living is also substantially below London, Paris, or New York, making FAMU one of the most affordable elite film schools in the world.

The school accepts small cohorts, typically 6 to 10 students per department per year. This creates an intimate learning environment with close faculty mentorship and high equipment access per student.

Notable Alumni

FAMU alumni include Milos Forman (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus), Agnieszka Holland (In Darkness, Green Border), Jiri Menzel (Closely Watched Trains), Vera Chytilova (Daisies), Jan Svankmajer (surrealist animator), and Emir Kusturica (Underground, Black Cat, White Cat). The school's alumni roster reads as a history of Central and Eastern European cinema.

See Also

For understanding European film financing and co-production, see International Film Markets. To explore cinematography fundamentals taught across European schools, use the Depth of Field Calculator.