RIT launches exchange program with Prague film school

For students pursuing careers in film and animation, international collaboration is becoming one of the most valuable skills they can develop before graduation.

Recognizing the growing demand for globally fluent creatives, RIT has partnered with Prague’s Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU) to launch a new student exchange program designed to prepare students for the realities of globalized creative industries.

Why international experience matters for film and animation students

Today’s film, animation, and game industries are global by design. Studios routinely collaborate across countries, time zones, and cultures, making international experience a major advantage for emerging creatives.

The RIT–FAMU exchange program was developed to meet this reality head-on. Made possible through Erasmus contract funding secured by FAMU, the program allows students from both institutions to study abroad while collaborating on creative projects.

• RIT students support video game projects developed by FAMU game design students.
• FAMU students study at RIT, enroll in SOFA courses, and contribute to senior capstone films.

The initiative is led by Shanti Thakur, professor and director of the College of Art and Design’s Digital Summer Institute and International Initiatives, in partnership with David Cenek, dean of FAMU, and faculty from both schools.

“This program gives our students incredible insight into understanding not just how to collaborate with new people, but also how to understand different cultural values and approaches,” Thakur said. “Being exposed to new histories and experiences builds empathy, which is at the core of what we need for storytelling.”

RIT students study abroad in Prague

Four RIT animation students were selected for the inaugural exchange and enrolled in a specialized course, SOFA and FAMU game arts study abroad in Prague, taught by Assistant Professor Jesse O’Brien. The students traveled to Prague in October and continued collaborating with FAMU students remotely throughout the fall semester.

By working directly with international game design teams, RIT animation students explored new creative pipelines and career paths beyond traditional film production.

“Many students chose this major because they want to work for companies like Pixar, but I always tell them that there are so many other opportunities in game development, advertising, and even simulation where they can use the skills they’re developing as a film and animation student,” said O’Brien.

Riley Zusi ’22 (film and animation), a current film and animation MFA student from The Woodlands, Texas, said that participating in this exchange program pushed her creatively, professionally, and personally.

“Now that I’m an MFA student, I’m trying to make as many connections as I can and pursue new experiences that get me out of my comfort zone,” she said. “The Czech Republic has a deep history in animation, and being there and collaborating with FAMU students made that history feel alive and within reach.”

Zusi worked on two FAMU student-created video games through the course and program. Her main focus was on character design and helping brainstorm different design concepts. The experience of working with her FAMU groupmates throughout the fall semester, both in-person and over Zoom, broadened her perspective on the animation industry.

“Talking with students from another country and hearing what their goals are and what they aspire to do helped me think more deeply about what I enjoy doing and what life after graduation looks like,” she said.

FAMU students study film production at RIT

For Kateřina Špálová, a third-year film production student at FAMU, studying in the United States was a childhood dream come true. She and fellow student David Horak spent the fall semester at RIT as part of the exchange.

While living in Rochester, Špálová enrolled in four courses, including a production capstone course, taught by Assistant Professor Vashti Anderson. Špálová supported fourth-year RIT students completing their senior films and she described the experience as eye-opening both creatively and culturally.

“Everyone we met in SOFA was really welcoming and excited to meet us,” said Špálová. “The creative discussions and feedback in class was very inspiring. I learned a lot about the differences between the film industries in Europe and the U.S. by working with American students.”

Outside of class, she explored the Rochester region and iconic New York destinations, including Niagara Falls and New York City. The experience helped her grow as both an artist and an individual.

“Living alone in a new country made me more independent. As an artist, my mind is more open now,” she said. “There are so many cultures and people from all around the world at RIT, and it’s been beautiful to get to know more cultures.”

How students can get involved

The exchange program is currently offered exclusively to students enrolled in SOFA’s animation and film production programs. To learn more about the program, email Shanti Thakur at shanti.thakur@rit.edu.