NaFilM National Film Museum opens tomorrow in Prague

The Cinema Museum in London, the Österreichisches Filmmuseum in Vienna, the Deutsches Filmmuseum in Frankfurt, and the EYE in Amsterdam are just a few of the celebrated film museums throughout Europe.

Tomorrow with the opening of the NaFilM National Film Museum, Prague will get its own addition to that illustrious list.

Located in the historic Mozarteum building on Jungmannova Street, the project previously existed as a series of temporary installations at venues around Prague; NaFilM: The Exhibition 2 (Palác Chicago, 2016/18) and NaFilM:The Exhibition (Museum Montanelli, 2015).

The size of the new museum is twice as large as those exhibitions, making it possible to extend the existing installation significantly, say the museum’s founders.

The interactive exhibits housed in the permanent museum are designed to appeal to a wide range of age groups, showcasing not only film history but how film works. Movie buffs will be able to build an old-fashioned projection apparatus as well as explore more futuristic filmmaking from virtual reality to holograms. Visitors will also be able to try their hand at film animation, editing, sound engineering, and special effects.

The exhibition is accompanied by over two hours’ worth of projections of Czech and foreign films.

The museum is the brainchild of a group of Charles University film history students. It has received support from both Czech filmmakers including Zdeněk Svěrák, Jiří Menzel, and Jan Hřebejk and an enthusiastic public which contributed to its successful crowdfunding campaign.

The entrance to the museum is from the Franciscan Gardens at Jungmannova Square.

Opening hours are Tuesdays to Sunday 13:00-19:00 (the museum will host morning programs for school groups); admission is 140 CZK, reduced (students, seniors) admission is 120 CZK, and a family pass is 480 CZ.