Information for term Film Studies
Application deadline, and cost information.
Overview
Click to OpenBring your film production, screenwriting, or film studies experience to Prague and become part of its rich filmmaking tradition that includes Miloš Forman, Agnieszka Holland, Emir Kusturica, and Jan Svěrák. Whether your focus is in production or screenwriting, you’ll choose from specially designed CIEE film courses and electives at the Prague Film and Television School of the Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU), one of the preeminent film schools in Central Europe. Classes are in English and include a two-week intensive Czech language course to facilitate cultural immersion. All courses are complemented with CIEE co-curricular activities and excursions beyond the city to enhance classroom learning and provide intercultural understanding.
Follow our Travels:
Unique Experiences
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Work
with American and international film students at the preeminent Prague Film and Television School of the Academy of the Performing Arts (FAMU).
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Learn
to shoot, direct, or write with mentoring from European film professionals.
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Get inspiration
from visits to Prague Barrandov film studios, and guest lectures by European directors, producers, cinematographers, and screenwriters.
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first year beer was brewed at the Benedictine Brevnov Monastery
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football fields would cover the area of Prague Castle
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residents
1.2M
Location & Culture
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Your Destination
Cobblestone streets, ancient bridges, and a hilltop castle help lend the City of a Hundred Spires its reputation as one of the world’s most beautiful. Prague is unique in Europe, having shed its Communist past and brimming with carefully preserved monuments from every period and style in its millennial history. There’s plenty of quirky, too, like the Zizkov Tower adorned with climbing babies, and the distinctly nontraditional Dancing House. Easy to explore on foot, the city boasts a rich cultural life that includes concerts, festivals, operas, and more – many of which you can access on a student budget.
The Culture
EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES
- Get an inside look at Barrandov Film Studios – Hollywood of the East.
- Travel overnight to visit a film school or attend an international student film festival.
- Make your visit official by traversing the Charles Bridge, which was constructed to cross the Vltava River in 1357.
PROJECTS
- Learn from industry experts.
- Practice your language skills with weekly activities organized by CIEE around the neighborhood, including cooking events, film nights, various events, and museum visits.
- Live in Prague like a Czech student, with a Czech flat buddy to show you around and explain local customs.
Program Blogs
Click to OpenProgram Blogs
Daily Life
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HOUSING
Neighborhood Apartments: Students live with other CIEE students in an apartment in a residential building. There is usually one CIEE apartment per building, with one or more CIEE apartments in other buildings in the same neighborhood. Students have shared bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, and usually a common area. Each apartment is different but they have similar market value.
A neighborhood apartment is for independent, resourceful students who can be good neighbors and who want to experience residential living in the city.
Czech Buddies: CIEE students can request a “Czech Buddy” as one of their roommates – a local university student who assists with student activities and can serve as an informal guide to local resources.
Location: Neighborhood Apartments are within 30 minutes of the CIEE Center by tram, metro, and walking. Homestays may be up to 45 minutes from the CIEE Center
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MEALS
Neighborhood Apartments: Meals are not included.
Prague, Czech Republic Where You'll Study
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CIEE PRAGUE
Vyšehrad – 15 minutes from Old Town.
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THE ACADEMY OF THE PERFORMING ARTS
Prague
Academics
Click to OpenAcademics
The Film Studies program is designed for students with experience in film production, screenwriting, or film studies to hone their production and writing skills. Students choose either the production track or the screenwriting track. In the production track, students create a 16-mm film, including pre-production, production, and post production. In the screenwriting track, students begin a feature-length screenplay, completing its full treatment and writing about half of a first draft. (Note: CIEE reserves the right to combine tracks in the case of low enrollment.)
The Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU) is the preeminent film school in Central Europe and the 5th oldest film school in the world. Many influential filmmakers and screenwriters are FAMU alumni, including Stanislav Barabas and Oscar-winners Miloš Forman and Agnieszka Holland.
CIEE Prague is located within the Vyšehrad national monument, at the top of one of Prague’s highest hills, about 15 minutes from the Old Town area. It features classrooms, a library, student lounge, staff offices, café, and a large garden and patio area.
GPA
Production Track: 2.5
Screenwriting Track: 3.0
Language Prerequisites
There are no specific language requirements for this program.
Additional Requirements
Production track: Overall GPA of 2.5 in an art-related major, preferably film. Demonstrate formal or informal experience with directing and use of digital/video camera. Portfolio sample of recent work via Vimeo/YouTube link (maximum 15 minutes in length). Sample should demonstrate a complete narrative and ability to develop a story. One or two storyboards/treatments for a short film to be shot in Prague. Recommendation letters from major department professors.
Screenwriting track: Overall GPA of 3.0 in art-related major. At least two courses in screenwriting or creative writing plus an original screenplay and proposals for two additional screenplays. Recommendation letters from major department professors.
Final acceptance to the program is determined following a review by FAMU faculty; please note that while CIEE’s conditional acceptances are made on a rolling basis, FAMU’s decisions are typically made after the application deadline.
Program Requirements
Students are required to take:
- Intensive Beginning Czech Language course for 3 U.S. credits.
- The two-week intensive (three to five hours per day) course provides students with basic skills needed to communicate daily. The course focuses on grammar, conversation, listening, and reading comprehension. The class continues on a weekly basis until the start of the pre-production period.
- Two required CIEE courses taught by FAMU faculty following a specific track (Production or Screenwriting).
- Six credits of FAMU Electives (to be selected during your on-site orientation).
Program Credit
Total credit: 17 U.S. semester/25.5 quarter credits
Course Credit
- CIEE courses: 4 U.S. semester/6 quarter credits; 60 contact hours
- FAMU courses: typically 1.5-3 U.S. semester/2.25-4.5 quarter credits; 24-45 contact hours
Academic Culture
This intensive program requires both evening and weekend sessions, film screenings, and production work. Because of the intensive production and post-production period, travel outside of Prague in the last seven weeks of the program is not allowed for students in the Production track.
Class Format
The Film Studies program includes both practical hands-on and traditional university courses. The production track has eight weeks of instruction, two weeks of guided pre-production, two weeks of production, and two weeks of post-production. The 14-week screenwriting track follows a more traditional schedule and culminates in the creation of approximately a half feature-length screenplay. Classes are small, and include both theoretical and practical exercises. With the exception of the Intensive Beginning Czech Language course, all classes are taught by FAMU faculty. Required CIEE Czech language and production and screenwriting courses include CIEE students only. FAMU elective courses include CIEE and international students. Students are guided by FAMU faculty member and Film Studies Academic Advisor Mary Angiolillo, who is also the liaison between CIEE and FAMU. An American, Mary is a longtime resident of the Czech Republic.
Grading
Assessment is varied and includes midterm and final exams, faculty assessment of final production or screenwriting projects, and participation in seminars, workshops, and other program activities. Courses are graded A–F.
Language of Instruction
English
Courses
Click to OpenCourse Information
Course Notes
Production Track
All students enroll in Topics in Production and Filmmaking Practicum and Mentorship courses.
Screenwriting Track
All students enroll in Feature Screenwriting and Script Analysis courses.
Spring 2021 CIEE Courses
Click to OpenLanguages and Cultural Studies
Visual and Performing Arts
Host Institution Courses
Click to OpenFAMU ELECTIVE COURSES: PRODUCTION AND SCREENWRITING TRACKS
The following is a sample list of CIEE-approved elective courses offered in English through FAMU. Production and Screenwriting track students must choose two to four of the following courses. The following courses are either 3 semester/4.5 quarter credits and 45 contact hours, or 1.5 semester/2.25 quarter credits and 24 contact hours, unless otherwise indicated. Final course lists are given to students during orientation.
- Acting Theories 1, 2
- Central European Cinemas within the Context of the World Cinema
- Cinematographer’s Influence
- Circulating within the Post-Modern Cinematic Image (3 credits)
- Documentary: Connection Course
- Film Style and Form
- Filming the Unfilmable
- History of Animation
- History of Avant-garde and Experimental Film
- Introduction to International Film/TV Producing
- Photographic Imaging
- Script Analysis 1
- Script Analysis 2
- Short Film Practical Analysis: Directing 1
- Soundtrack Aesthetics
- Surrealism
- The Realm of Montage 1
- Visual Theory 1, 2
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
Scholarships
Click to OpenScholarships & Grants
CIEE offers more than $8 million in scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- MSI Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application. Learn more at the Scholarships & Grants section of our website.
See more scholarship infoDates & Fees
Click to OpenDates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2021 17 weeks | Oct 1, 2020 | Jan 19, 2021* | May 15, 2021* |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Looking for funding?
What's Included
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Our Staff
Click to OpenOur Staff
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Will Barnard
Director
Will Barnard heads the CIEE Prague Center. Originally from the U.S., Will has lived and worked in the Czech Republic for over twenty years.
Get Started
Here's what you need to do to take the next steps:-
1
START AN APPLICATION
Apply Now
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CONNECT WITH YOUR CAMPUS STUDY ABROAD OFFICE
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad. -
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Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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