Better late than never – a warm welcome to our new neighbors! At the beginning of the year, on January 17, 2025, the moment finally arrived: the Potsdam Film Museum’s Schaudepot was officially inaugurated – right next to the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF and MTH Potsdam. This modern collection building now makes a significant part of cinematic heritage accessible to the public and invites visitors to marvel, explore, and participate.
Insights behind the scenes of film history
At the Schaudepot, visitors can expect a curated selection of around 750 exhibits and 400 written documents, complemented by interactive hands-on stations focused on film technology. Even more impressive, the entire depot houses over one million objects—including props, film equipment, set models, designs, and costumes.
But the Schaudepot is more than a traditional exhibition. It offers authentic insights into the work behind the scenes—covering collection, archiving, research, and restoration. How do objects make their way into the museum? How are they preserved? What role does digitization play? All these questions are actively addressed here.
A place for education and participation
The Schaudepot sees itself not only as a showcase, but also as a place for education. In the future, regular workshops, special tours, and educational programs will be held here. For individual visits, the depot is currently open on Monday and Wednesday mornings as well as Thursday afternoons. Group tours can be booked individually.
Reflections on the Opening
At the official opening on January 17, 2025, guests from the worlds of politics and culture gathered. Dr. Manja Schüle, Brandenburg’s Minister for Science, Research and Culture, emphasized:
“Anyone visiting the newly opened Schaudepot of the Potsdam Film Museum in Babelsberg Media City will not only see extraordinary objects from 113 years of German film history, but will also gain fascinating and truly exciting insights into the museum’s extensive collection work, which comprises more than one million objects…”
Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth was also enthusiastic:
“With the Schaudepot, the Potsdam Film Museum now offers its audience entirely new insights behind the scenes of German cinema, from its beginnings to the present day.”
Funding and Partnerships
This project was made possible through the support of numerous partners. The Schaudepot received backing from, among others, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), the Ministry for Science, Research and Culture of Brandenburg (MWFK), the City of Potsdam (as part of the UNESCO Creative City of Film campaign), and the Friends of the Cultural Foundation of the Federal States.
With the Schaudepot, Brandenburg’s cultural landscape gains a central venue for film culture, research, and education. For us at MTH Potsdam, it is a pleasure to welcome this new neighbor—and we look forward to future joint events and opportunities for exchange.
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