What a full academic year looks like at Prague Film Institute?
Studying film is not just about learning how to operate a camera or write a script — it’s about entering a rhythm where theory and practice constantly feed into each other. From the very first week, students don’t just observe filmmaking; they start making it.
LOCATION
The first thing you will notice is the location. Malostranská is the part of Prague people come to stroll in. It is the historic heartland of Prague’s rebel artists, writers and filmmakers.
And the film school is as cosy as home.
THIS IS NOT A HOLIDAY
Every student begins their creative journey by exploring the specialization that excites them most.
Which path will you choose?
- Cinematography
- Directing
- Screenwriting
- Post-production
- Documentary
- Producing
Specialty in hand, you dive into the theory-practice cycle of the Teaching Phase.
TEACHING PHASE
This is the ‘learning-curve’ first half of the semester. 60% of the teaching phase is practical learning – your weeks are packed with theory-to-practice tuition on the core skills of your craft, leading up to guided filming days every 2/3 weeks.
On each of these pro-supervised shoots, each of us works according to our specialisation. Some also get a shot at helping in other roles. Everyone gets to learn real set workflows.
Every week there is an “intensive practical workshop day”, and this either involves tripping to a film studio, casting agency, costumes/props etc., or professionals coming to you to deliver a bespoke “intensive practical workshop”.
SHOOTING PERIOD
The Shooting Period of the semester is when you make films. Lots of them.
The period starts with everyone pitching films for production. Sure – pitching is a total of no one’s favourite thing, but it’s a professional skill you need, and the course is built to train you to pitch well.
It’s intense – but it’s real, and you, your cast and your crew come together to create a finished thing. Some students take part in four or even five short films in one semester, which is 8-10 films in the year.
Your week is under a project schedule now, so you can get a real glimpse of what life is like as a filmmaker – meetings, equipment, crewing, night shoots, cold feet, hot tempers, laughing, …creating a new family.
Each semester, students work on at least one film within their chosen specialization, building credits in their field. Before filming, projects go through development and pre-production consultations with tutors, leading to a final approval that confirms readiness to shoot.
Once approved, the school provides all necessary equipment and supports with locations and logistics.
After production, students move into post-production, with access to professional software, facilities, and expert guidance in editing, sound, visual effects, and colour grading.
The semester culminates in a public screening in a central Prague cinema, where all completed films are showcased—an exciting opportunity to share your work and celebrate alongside fellow filmmakers.
SECOND SEMESTER
If you’re on the 1-year filmmaking program, let’s make it simple:
Imagine taking Semester 1 and raising it up a level for Semester 2. If the first semester introduced you to basics, the second is where you start to learn the craft.
It’s not mood boards, but location scouting, and not blocking actors, but directing different genres. There is a lot of genre-specific work in this semester – comedy, horror, drama… – because even arthouse nerds need tools (and to eat – we need to eat).
You are not studying camera movement anymore, you are learning narrative lighting techniques;
This is also the part of the year where things get more serious – a film production grant is up for grabs, awarded every year to the best Final Film Pitches.
The magic mix is a killer concept pitched well, and backed up with a good production plan – much like in the industry.
The winners share a cash grant for boosting the production values of their film.
This is the semester you learn about distribution too. The great thing about attending a film school founded by a producer is that film distribution is embedded into the thinking of the course (remember genre?). A short film distribution expert helps us understand the film festival circuit and how it connects to the great blue professional beyond, so next steps feel more road than mountain.
How do you feel at the end of it? Tired. Skilled. Ready. And if what the old-timers say is true, you also might have had one of the best years of your life.
