Two foreign-language Oscars, Miloš Forman, and a studio that doubles Prague for half of Europe.
Czech film has two separate claims on your attention: a 1960s new wave that produced some of the best European cinema of its decade, and a modern industry that quietly stands in for Paris, Vienna and London in productions you have certainly seen.
The Czechoslovak New Wave
Between roughly 1963 and 1968, a generation of FAMU graduates made films of extraordinary freedom — ironic, improvised and quietly subversive. Two won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film: The Shop on Main Street (1965) and Closely Watched Trains (1967), directed by Jiří Menzel from Hrabal’s novel. The movement ended when Soviet tanks arrived in 1968.
Miloš Forman
Began in the new wave with Loves of a Blonde I The Firemen’s Ball, then emigrated after 1968 and won Best Director twice in Hollywood — for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest I Amadeus. Amadeus was filmed largely in Prague, which stood in for 18th-century Vienna because it had survived better.
Animation and the surreal
Jiří Trnka’s puppet animation was internationally admired; Jan Švankmajer’s stop-motion surrealism influenced the Brothers Quay and Tim Burton. Karel Zeman built fantastical worlds decades before digital effects.
Prague as a film set
Barrandov Studios, founded in 1933, is one of Europe’s oldest. Prague has doubled for Vienna, Paris, London and Moscow in productions from Amadeus Do Mission: Impossible I Casino Royale.
Watching films here
Czech cinemas usually show international films in the original language with Czech subtitles — look for titulky rather than dabing.
Często Zadawane Pytania
Which Czech films won Oscars?
The Shop on Main Street (1965) and Closely Watched Trains (1967), both for Best Foreign Language Film. Miloš Forman later won Best Director twice for American films.
Was Amadeus filmed in Prague?
Yes, largely — the city’s baroque centre stood in for Vienna.
Can I see films in English in Prague?
Yes. Most international releases screen in the original with Czech subtitles.
Read more: famous Czech people, shows and performances I Czech writers.
Last reviewed in August 2026.
