Ever wondered where some of cinema’s most innovative minds honed their craft? Here at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague FAMU aspiring filmmakers learn their trade. FAMU stands for Filmová a televizní fakulta Akademie múzických umění v Praze. It is the fifth oldest film school on the planet.
Founded in 1946 FAMU quickly became a vital part of Prague’s Academy of Performing Arts. The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague has three branches. They are The Theatre Faculty DAMU and the Music and Dance Faculty HAMU. FAMU is a place where dreams take shape.
Initially FAMU resided on the fourth floor of Havlíčkova 13. In 1948 it moved to the Vančura building at Klimenská 4. Later in 1952, FAMU acquired the Roxy Cinema, a former Jewish cinema, using it as a film studio from 1955.
Despite early challenges FAMU persevered. It built an academic program. This program was based on the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow.
The 1960s are remembered as FAMU’s golden age. During this time many figures of the Czechoslovak New Wave studied here. Think world-famous directors such as Miloš Forman. FAMU fostered a relatively free educational culture. It resisted the regime’s attempts to push agitprop after the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion.
Today FAMU continues to thrive. It is one of the best film schools worldwide. The Hollywood Reporter consistently ranks FAMU among the top schools in the world. In 2011 it was seventh. In 2012 it was eleventh. It was also named the best film school in Europe both years.
FAMU offers a range of programs. These include bachelors, masters, and doctoral studies. Most courses are taught in Czech. However FAMU also provides courses in English. These include the Academy Preparation Program and the Cinema in Digital Media master’s degree.
The school comprises eleven departments. These are Directing, Documentary Filmmaking, Scriptwriting, Animated Film, Cinematography and Sound Design. There is also Editing Production and Photography. Finally there is the FAMU Center for AudioVisual Studies.
FAMU’s main building sits in Prague’s historic center. It includes Studio FAMU. This offers production and post-production facilities with fully equipped sound stages and TV studios. Each autumn, FAMU hosts Famufest. This festival showcases student work with an accompanying cultural program.
FAMU maintains strong international connections. It is a founding member of the CILECT network and the European League of Institutes of the Arts. The school partners with institutions. These include New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Emerson College and Yale University.
FAMU’s alumni have made a significant impact on cinema. Some notable names include Miloš Forman Agnieszka Holland and Emir Kusturica. These graduates have shaped the landscape of film.
As you stand here you are surrounded by history. You are in a place that has nurtured generations of filmmakers. The Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague continues to inspire. It equips students to tell their stories on the world stage. It remains a beacon for aspiring artists.