Association for Film and Audiovisual Education

The Association supports the development of film and audiovisual education both in school and in leisure time activities. Our aim is to raise awareness of film and audiovisual education in the Czech Republic, to improve conditions for its implementation in Czech schools and within activities of informal education. We also aim to deepen the interdisciplinary dialogue about film education as well as to contribute to the creation of conceptual documents that will lead to systematization of support for film and audiovisual education in the Czech Republic.
The Association is involved in a number of projects, either independently or in cooperation with its partners.
Main activities include two professional meetings organized each year, the international conference Kino za školou (Cinema Behind School), in which we cooperate with the Creative Europe MEDIA Office, Zlín Film Fest and Tomas Bata University, and the Inspiration Conference organized in cooperation with Animánie in Pilsen.

In 2018, we carried out a pilot year of data collection on film education in the Czech Republic, which was attended by a total of 30 participants. In 2019, in cooperation with NIPOS / ARTAMA, Aeroškola and Animánie, we also implemented two accredited seminars on film education: a seminar on film education for elementary art school teachers and a seminar on film education and copyright. The Association wants to continue organizing these seminars in the coming years.

Since 2019, we have also been awarding the Boris Jachnin Award for contributions in the field of film / audiovisual education.

In the spring of 2021, we launched an online inspirational debate with important personalities and organizations in the field of film and audiovisual education under the name Za školou (Behind the School). Live stream available on our facebook page is open to the general public.

In the years 2021 – 2022, the Association also implements an extensive project “Strengthening of film/audiovisual education in the Czech Republic” supported by the EEA / Norway Funds 2014 – 2021. The project is focused on mapping the conditions of film/audiovisual education in Czech Republic, monitoring of examples of good practice in European countries and online educational programs for the professional public.

We also plan to expand our publishing activities to support the field of film and audiovisual education. In the coming years, we aim to develop a textbook of film education for primary school teachers, publishing a professional journal of film education or preparing a popularization guide for parents.

If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us. We will try to give you an advice or to mediate help.

Film education in the Czech Republic

Film education is in the Czech context usually understood as an area of education focused on the development of competencies and knowledge of reception, analysis, critical evaluating and practical creation of films. Therefore, film is not perceived as merely a means of teaching or enlightening, but as their subject. Film education is not supposed to have purely informative character but rather formative one. The aim is to cultivate aesthetic-ethical relationship to cinematography and audiovisual culture, and more broadly to art and culture.

Film/audiovisual education as a part of Czech schools´ curriculum

Film/audiovisual education (in Czech F/AV or FAV) was approved in 2010 as an extension of Framework Educational Programs for Elementary Education (FEP EE) and for Secondary General Education (FEP SGE). It is a so-called supplementary education which enables pupils and students to learn about film in non-compulsory objects, but they are still classified for it.

The content of the field was elaborated by a team of authors under the leadership of prof. Mgr. Rudolf Adler in cooperation with the Pedagogical Research Institute (Národní pedagogický institut). In particular, the aim of the teaching content should be to “understand art as a specific way of knowing and to use the language of art as a distinctive means of communication”.

The sole optional subject Film/Audiovisual Education is spreading very rarely in Czech schools. Reasons are many – the subject does not have hourly or financial subsidy, there is a lack of qualified pedagogues, didactics of the field, teaching aids, textbooks, or methodological materials.

Film education as a part of informal education

Informal education is currently crucial for the film education in Czech republic. While the film/audiovisual education is being promoted very slowly into the formal education, there are hundreds of spontaneously emerging activities for children, young and adult within the informal education. These activities are usually voluntary. They are organized by children and youth associations and other non-governmental non-profit organizations (NGOs), educational facilities for leisure time activities, educational agencies, clubs, cultural institutions, but also individuals.

Who is who

We present to you the overview of institutions and projects which are focused on film/audiovisual education in the Czech Republic.

Governmental institutions:

• Creative Europe–MEDIA Czech Republic – also joins some national film education activities as a representative of a film support and audience support provider.
• Ministry of Culture (MK) – central body of state administration in culture. Media and Audiovision Department is in charge of the film education and is a significant supporter of it.
• Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MŠMT) – central body of state administration for pre-school and school facilities, primary and secondary schools, universities, science policy, research and development.
• National Film Archive (NFA) – organization of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic which apart from others develops the film education program.
• National Information and Counseling Center for Culture (NIPOS) – contributory organization of the Ministry of Culture. It is also active in non-professional artistic activities including the film education.
• National Pedagogical Institute of the Czech Repubilc – organization of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports which apart from others is in charge of creation of Framework Educational Programs.

Independent organizations:

• Aeroškola – Aeroschool
• Anima Roztoč
• Animánie
• Asociace českých filmových klubů – Association of Czech Film Clubs
• Asociace pro filmovou a audiovizuální výchovu – Czech Association of Film and Audiovisual Education
• Centrum dokumentárního filmu – Center for Documentary Films
• CinEd – European Cinema Education for Youth 
• Česká pedagogická komora – Czech Pedagogical Chamber
• Free Cinema
• Impuls Hradec Králové
• Jeden svět na školách – One World in Schools
• Krutón
• My Street Films
• Studentská akademie – Student Academy
• Ultrafun
• Ústav pro studium totalitních režimů – Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes

Festivals

• Anifilm, Liberec
• Animánie
• Letní filmová škola (LFŠ) – Summer film school
• Zlín Film Festival – International Film Festival, Zlín for Children and Youth
• Juniorfest, Pilsen

Museums

• Muzeum Karla Zemana – Karel Zeman Museum – also offers educational programs
• NaFilM: National Film Museum – also offers educational programs
• Národní technické muzeum – National Technical Museum
• Zlínský filmový uzel – Zlín Film Knot – also offers educational programs  

Selection of publications focused on film education in the Czech Republic

Jak vznikl film. Výlet do světa filmové archeologie pro malé i velké (How the film was made. A trip to the world of film archeology for children and grownups)

(Tereza Cz Dvořáková, František Týmal, Nikkarin, Prague: Argo 2017, Czech)
A richly illustrated author´s book for children from 7 years focuses on the era of film archeology, invention and beginning of film. In addition to chapters dedicated to each topic of film (pre)history you can find also original interactive instructions for the creation of optic instruments and guidepost which shows the children where to go if they are more interested in films.

Zloději tmy (The Thieves of darkness)

(Alexandra Morales, Lucie Bokšteflová, Prague: NFA, 2017, Czech)
Children´s book The Thieves of darkness introduces the functioning of photo chemical film to young readers and attracts them to the its creative use. Three heroes from the world that suppressed darkness discover the secret of the black box and a long-forgotten knowledge associated with deciphering of the mysterious cipher hidden inside. The book also includes a theoretical part explaining the basic principles of the film. It contains extensive illustrations of Vojtěch Horálek.

Film Literacy Initiatives

(Marcin Górecki, Agata Sotomska (eds.), Creative Europe Desk Poland, Berlin-Brandenburg, Denmark, 2015, English)
A new valuable publication was published by the EU program Creative Europe Media. It presents activities connected to the film education in 23 European countries. Unfortunately the Czech Republic is not represented completely by Pastich Filmz, One World in schools, Program of Open Film Education, Aeroškola, Film and School, Animánie, Center for Documentary Film and Ultrafun. Specimens can be ordered free of charge for examples at the Polish Creative Europe office info@kreatywna-europa.eu).

Filmové právo. Autorskoprávní perspektiva.
(Film Law: A Copyright Perspective)

(Ivan David, Prague: Nová beseda, 2015, Czech)
The book summarizes the most important things from the legislation connected to the the production and use of an audiovisual work or record. It begins by explaining to a large extent the artificial concept of „film law“ and continues to bring it into the context of copyright. There are very interesting parts about the situation of film legislation in the United States of America.

Nafilmuj to! Jak vzniká film
(Film it! How the Movie is Made)

(Tim Grabham and co., Prague: Mladá fronta, 2011, Czech)
Interactive and richly illustrated children’s and youth translation book comes in a cardboard box that resembles a movie clapper. Inside you will find the book How the Movie Is Made, which describes the process of film-making to children using digital technology. In addition to production stages, it also focuses on the types of shots, sound or composition. Separate sections of Dave Reeve´s, Clare Richards´s and Tim Grabhan´s chapters deal with narrative, documentary and animated films.

Pohyblivé obrázky. Jak funguje projektor, televize a filmová kamera (Motion Pictures. How the projector, television and video camera work

(Radek Chajda, Brno: Computer Press, 2011, Czech)
The book by the physics popularizer Radek Chajda is a very practical guide to the basic principles of audiovisual recording and projection technology. We will learn not only how the human eye works and the minimum of the history of imaging technology and Czech cinematography, but also how to make simple optical toys.

Audiovizuální edukace jako součást mediální výchovy (Audiovisual education as a part of media education)

(Jana Krátká, Patrik Vacek, Brno: Faculty of Education, Masaryk University 2008, Czech)
The brochure published by the FoE MU offers basic (very brief) insight into the history of media education in our country, but also in selected European countries (France, Great Britain, USA). Publication of two pedagogues from Brno is a summary of the development of audiovisual education (that is how the authors summarize the film and media education) and a practical guide to its use in history lessons, art education, but also as an optional subject.