Filmmuseum Potsdam, Film museum in Breite Strasse, Potsdam, Germany
The Filmmuseum Potsdam occupies the Marstall, the former royal stables of the Potsdam City Palace, a two-storey building with a red tiled roof and a red and cream facade. A portico of tall stone columns supports an entablature topped by statues of riders and horses, with gold letters reading "FILMMUSEUM POTSDAM". Inside, the permanent exhibition "Traumfabrik – 100 Jahre Film in Babelsberg" traces filmmaking from script to marketing.
In 1977 Potsdam's city assembly resolved to create the museum, and after restoration of the dilapidated Marstall it opened in April 1981 as the Filmmuseum der DDR with an exhibition on film technology. A 1983 show covered the history of UFA and DEFA. In 1991 the state of Brandenburg took over its funding, and in 1993 the interiors were modernised and a restored Welte cinema organ installed in the auditorium.
The museum displays costumes, furniture, and equipment used in productions at the nearby Babelsberg Studios. These exhibits show how filmmaking took shape in this region and the role these studios played in German cinema.
Visitors can explore permanent exhibitions and rotating shows with general admission. Most areas are accessible on foot, though some upper galleries require climbing stairs.
The museum features interactive stations where visitors can experiment in casting boxes and work with sound design installations. These hands-on experiences allow visitors to discover the technical aspects of filmmaking firsthand.
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