Filmmuseum Potsdam

Please note: The current opening and closing hours and special hygiene rules for the Covid-19 are available on this website.

This oldest film museum in Germany is located in the Potsdamer Stadtschloss. In the heart of Brandenburg's capital, you can go behind the scenes of film and cinema. In a magnificent baroque building, stars of the silver screen shine. With the permanent exhibition "Dream factory - 100 years of film in Babelsberg", the museum shows the long history of the Babelsberg film studios, the oldest film factory in the world. Over 700 props take you through the history of Babelsberg's film world: from elaborate costumes to furniture pieces. Discover the original bench from "The Punch Bowl" and a vehicle from "Around the World in 80 Days."

Film Museum Potsdam: Experience screen history

In 1981, the Film Museum moves into the stables of the Potsdamer Stadtschloss - then as a GDR film museum. Since 1990, the museum has presented the film history of a united Germany. The interiors are modernised in 1993. Since 2011, the museum offers a behind the scenes look at the famous film studios in the exhibition "Dream factory - 100 years of film in Babelsberg."
Since its founding in 1912, more than 3,000 TV shows and films have been produced by the Babelsberger Filmstudios. Learn how movies come together in seven themed rooms. In the first, you will see how a film is created with 20 examples - starting from the beginning. The next room shows castings of famous actors including Marlene Dietrich, Christopher Waltz and Kate Winslet. In the popular casting box, you can audition for a film or be digitally inserted into famous movie scenes.
In the themed area, learn about the art of set design and construction. Watch over the director’s shoulder to learn about the techniques used by the various players in the film industry. Continue to the colourful, cramped room filled with original props and film trophies in glass display cases. The cutting table from 1965 really attracts attention. Learn about music and sound in the acoustically shielded room by singing a duet with German singer Zarah Leander. Find out how individual sound sequences affect different scenes in a film. The final stop is the in-house cinema. This radiates a special charm with its velvet chairs and historical projectors. Here you can enjoy film excerpts from the well-known Babelsberger film productions, projected onto the screen.

The history of film: in the Film Museum Potsdam

• Permanent exhibition "Dream factory - 100 years of film in Babelsberg".
• Special exhibitions such as "Sam Shaw - 60 Years of Photography".
• Portrait photos, posters, production documents and costumes from worldwide blockbusters.
• Cinema hall with organ music and historic projectors and seats.
• Credits: fun and dialogue in the museum café.

Attractions around the Film Museum Potsdam

After your visit to the museum, head to the world's oldest studio. Studio Babelsberg is the largest of its kind in Europe. It is about 5 kilometres away and easy to reach by bus and tram. On the premises, Oscar winners like “Inglourious Basterds” and “Grand Budapest Hotel” were created. The Filmpark Babelsberg and the 4D-Action Cinema next door are also worth a visit. Afterwards you can enjoy the view from the Schlosspark of the Jungfernsee Lake and the Glienicker Brücke.

Tips for visiting the Film Museum Potsdam

The Film Museum Potsdam can be easily reached from Berlin's Hauptbahnhof with the Regional Express. With the Berlin WelcomeCard you receive a 29% discount on the permanent exhibition and special exhibitions. Children under five are not admitted. The museum offers expert guided tours for groups.