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.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
CIEE is requiring all participants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before traveling on programs. Read more ›
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.
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Prague.
The Culture
EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES
- Get an inside look at Barrandov Film Studios – the Hollywood of the East.
- Participate in cultural activities organized by local college students to spark your interest in local art, film, music, sports, or cuisine, and see how Czech college students are similar and different from U.S. college students.
- 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.
Program Blogs
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Daily Life
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Housing
All housing is within a 45-minute commute to CIEE.
Homestays: Live with a Czech family, with or without another CIEE student, and immerse yourself in the city’s culture. Each student has an individual room.Apartments: Students can live in apartments shared with other CIEE students. If local health and safety regulations permit, most students live in double or triple rooms. Each apartment will have shared common spaces, including kitchen and bathroom.
Residence Halls: Students usually live with a mix of CIEE students, local and international students in dormitory-like buildings. If local health and safety regulations permit, most students live in double or triple rooms. Students usually share kitchens and common areas.
Housing is tight in Prague. If we can’t accommodate your first housing choice, we’ll let you know before you arrive. -
Meals
Homestay: Breakfast and dinner, on the family’s schedule, are included.
Residence Halls and Apartments: Meals are not included.
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. FAMU is located in the city center on the banks of the Vltava River.
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.
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
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
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
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.
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Language of Instruction
English and Czech
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
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 2023 CIEE Courses
Click to OpenLanguages and Cultural Studies
Visual and Performing Arts
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.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships
Click to OpenScholarships & Grants
CIEE offers 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
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 2023 17 weeks | Deadline Passed | Jan 17, 2023 | May 13, 2023 |
$19,950
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Program FeesCIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $16,558 ** Housing = $2,925 *** Insurance = $167 Total Fees = $19,950Estimated CostsStudents are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration. Meals not included in program fee = $1,910 International Airfare = $1,000 † Local Transportation = $45 †† Books & Supplies = $45 Visa Fees = $114 Personal expenses = $1,635 Other = $0 Total Estimated Costs = $4,749Financial AidCIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants. This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required by their US home institution to study abroad via CIEE's School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students *** Meals vary by housing choice: Includes two meals per day for homestay students. No meals are included for students in apartments or residence halls. Additionally, students who opt for and are placed in single-occupancy rooms will be billed a supplemental fee of approximately $1000, 4-6 weeks after the program starts † round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure †† cost of taxi to airport on departure; local transportation pass included in program. |
| Fall 2023 16 weeks | Apr 1, 2023 | Aug 29, 2023* | Dec 16, 2023* |
$19,950
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Program FeesCIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $16,528 ** Housing = $2,925 *** Insurance = $197 Total Fees = $19,950Estimated CostsStudents are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration. Meals not included in program fee = $1,910 † International Airfare = $1,000 †† Local Transportation = $45 Books & Supplies = $45 Visa Fees = $114 Personal expenses = $1,635 Other = $35 ††† Total Estimated Costs = $4,784Financial AidCIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants. This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required by their US home institution to study abroad via CIEE's School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students *** Meals vary by housing choice: Includes two meals per day for homestay students. No meals are included for students in apartments or residence halls. Additionally, students who opt for and are placed in single-occupancy rooms will be billed a supplemental fee of approximately $1000, 4-6 weeks after the program starts † for students residing in shared apartments; homestay students should budget $1,000 per semester for meals not included in fees †† round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure ††† Covid test fees for entry to the US, if required |
*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
Click to OpenWhat's Included
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 higher education 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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2
CONNECT WITH YOUR CAMPUS STUDY ABROAD OFFICE
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad. -
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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