Master’s Programme in Montage

Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU)

Overview

The Master’s Programme in Montage at FAMU is a full-time, English-taught, three-year course designed for graduates in film or related fields who wish to become creative editors — artists who shape the rhythm, structure, and emotional power of audiovisual storytelling. Rather than training technicians, the programme forms editors as co-authors of meaning and collaborators in the filmmaking process.

Rooted in the distinguished tradition of FAMU’s Department of Editing, the programme emphasizes the editor’s role as a dramaturgical and conceptual partner to the director. Through hands-on workshops, critical seminars, and intensive collaboration across departments, students develop both artistic vision and professional discipline.

Editing is approached not as a post-production service but as the very heart of cinematic expression — the space where story, image, and sound meet to generate rhythm, tension, and emotion.

Programme Goals

The main objective of the Montage programme is to educate editors who combine craft mastery with conceptual insight and artistic identity. Students learn to:

• Use montage as a creative language, shaping time, space, rhythm, and meaning.

• Analyze audiovisual works and articulate editing decisions through theoretical and critical frameworks.

• Collaborate effectively with directors and production teams, contributing ideas that influence story and tone.

• Balance creativity and responsibility, considering ethical, aesthetic, and cultural dimensions of film editing.

• Adapt to evolving technologies, applying both analog and digital methods of visual storytelling.

Graduates emerge as self-reflective editors capable of shaping the narrative and emotional structure of cinematic works.

Curriculum Structure

The three-year programme integrates continuous workshop practice, technical training, and theoretical reflection.

Year 1 – Foundations of Montage

Students begin with practical exercises focusing on the fundamentals of editing rhythm, shot composition, and dramatic structure. They work with both analog film and digital material, learning to perceive montage as a dynamic interplay of image and sound.

Year 2 – Expanding Form and Collaboration

As skills deepen, students engage in fiction, documentary, and experimental projects in cooperation with directing, cinematography, and sound students. They explore dramaturgy, narrative pacing, and the editor’s creative authorship. Courses include post-production workflows, film analysis, and theory of montage.

Year 3 – Master Project and Reflection

In the final year, each student completes an independent master’s project — either editing a film produced at FAMU or constructing an original edit from existing material. The thesis combines artistic work with a written reflection that situates creative choices within broader film theory and practice.

Throughout all semesters, the Montage Workshop remains the programme’s core. Each student receives individual mentoring from active professional editors, working in small groups of usually six or seven participants.

Practical teaching is supported by well-equipped editing suites, analog Steenbeck tables, and software such as Avid, DaVinci Resolve, and ProTools.

Graduate Profile

Graduates of the programme become professionals who understand montage as both an artistic and communicative act. They can:

• Function as creative partners to directors, shaping the emotional and narrative structure of a film.

• Employ both analog and digital technologies with confidence and artistry.

• Justify and reflect upon their creative decisions in theoretical and ethical terms.

• Lead or collaborate within production teams, adapting to diverse creative environments.

• Engage with new audiovisual forms, including immersive media and interactive storytelling.

They leave FAMU with the capacity to define editorial rhythm, construct meaning, and contribute original vision to any cinematic project.

Why Choose FAMU

FAMU’s Department of Editing combines tradition, innovation, and an intensely personal approach to teaching. Key strengths include:

• Individual mentorship: small groups ensure close collaboration with experienced editors and personalized feedback.

• Integration of tradition and technology: the programme values both analog film heritage and cutting-edge digital tools.

• International perspective: taught in English and open to students from around the world, fostering cross-cultural creativity.

• Collaborative ecosystem: editors work directly with directing, cinematography, and sound departments, mirroring real-world production.

• Prestigious history: since its founding, FAMU has shaped generations of award-winning editors and filmmakers.

• Vibrant location: Prague’s rich film culture, festivals, and production networks offer abundant professional inspiration.

This unique environment makes FAMU an ideal setting for students who want editing to become their artistic voice.

Admissions Requirements

Admission to the programme is selective and open to applicants who can demonstrate talent, motivation, and conceptual maturity. Candidates must:

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in film, media, or a related discipline.

• Show strong artistic potential through a portfolio (short film, sequence, or creative montage project).

• Provide a motivation letter, curriculum vitae, and a written reflection on editing as creative practice.

• Demonstrate English proficiency at least at CEFR B2 level.

• Pass a two-round entrance process, including portfolio evaluation and interview.

The annual tuition fee is approximately CZK 300,000. Admission is limited to a small number of students to maintain an intensive workshop structure.

Career Prospects

Graduates of the Master’s in Montage programme are equipped to work internationally across film, television, advertising, and digital media. Typical career paths include:

• Film Editor for feature, documentary, or experimental projects.

• Post-production specialist in editing studios or production houses.

• Creative collaborator for directors, producers, and media artists.

• Independent filmmaker or media artist exploring montage across new forms.

• Teacher or researcher in editing, film aesthetics, or media studies.