Study Abroad in the Czech Republic: Film Production in Prague – City & Daily Life

Prague, Czech Republic

The German philosopher Goethe proclaimed Prague to be “the most precious stone in the crown of the world.” Prague draws its visitors through fairytale-like cobblestone streets, and past a thousand years of artistic history.

Long the capital of Bohemia, and twice the medieval seat of the Holy Roman Empire, Prague has always stood as the forefront of culture and industry. The city emerged from the communist era in 1989 to become one of Europe’s fastest-growing economies.

Today, Prague stands at the crossroads of Europe, where East meets West, and history lives next door to modernity. CET Film students become a part of Prague’s grand intellectual and artistic tradition as they capture on film one of the world’s most inspiring cities.

FAMU, The Film and Television School of the Academy of Performing Arts

FAMU was recently ranked as Europe’s number one film academy. In the school’s 60-year history, it has been hotbed for political resistance and cultural change. It fostered the New Wave of the 1960s. And it served as headquarters for the student-led Velvet Revolution of 1989 that brought down communist rule in Czechoslovakia.

The Academy of Performing Arts boasts state-of-the-art facilities, engaged faculty mentors and a jaw-dropping roster of famous alumni: Jiří Menzel, Milan Kundera, Miloš Forman and Věra Chytilová. Occasionally, these luminaries return to their alma mater to visit and lecture to the school’s new recruits. In the audience sit CET Film students, who soak up all they can from this exclusive arena of film, television, photography and performing arts giants.

CET Center in Prague

The CET center is in the heart of Prague. The neighborhood features excellent public transportation, countless restaurants and cafés, and many museums, movie theaters and stores. The center houses offices for program staff, a library, and a small computer lab with wi-fi access.

CET Film students take classes on the FAMU campus. Classroom buildings are a 10 to 20 minute walk from the CET center.

Film Housing & Meals

Students share apartments with other CET students and Czech roommates. Each apartment has a full kitchen. Apartments are centrally located and typically a 20-minute commute to the CET center.

Meals are not included in the program fee. Students dine in Prague’s many cafés and restaurants, or cook for themselves at home.

Czech Roommates

Sharing a room with a local roommate is frequently cited by CET students as “one of the best parts of the program.” Many students become good friends with their roommates and remain close after the program ends.

Czech roommates come from local universities around Prague. Roommates introduce CET students to Prague and Czech culture. They attend program excursions. Some even take classes with their CET peers.

The result? Cross-cultural relationships that move well beyond the host and guest paradigm.

“Our Czech roommate was extremely friendly and helpful. He also hung out with us a lot. I was given a Czech roommate [by CET] and left with a really good friend.” – anonymous student, Fall 2011 Film final evaluation