From the appearance of cinema as mass entertainment until the rise to power of National Socialism in Germany in 1933, Berlin had become a mecca for cinema.
During the first decades of the 20th century, and especially thanks to silent films, which were easily adaptable to any language, the studios of the Universum-Film AG -UFA- located on the outskirts of Berlin were one of the most important film producers. Films such as Metropolis, by Fritz Lang, or the Blue Angel with Marlene Dietrich were shot in these mythical studios.
Beginning in 1933 the studios lost much of their staff. Following the Nazi takeover, Joseph Goebbels' Ministry of Propaganda enforced strict registration of all artistic personnel in the country. To be able to practice as an artist of any kind you had to be Aryan, so hundreds of Jews in the industry lost their jobs. Most would go to the United States.
The UFA studios were finally sold to the State in 1937. From that date until 1945, more than 1,000 films were produced here, many of them propaganda films.
After World War II, Communist Germany established its film industry here. In 1992 the studios were privatized and sold to different audiovisual companies. In 1993 the complex was expanded with a theme park focused on the world of cinema.
How to get to the UFA Film Studios
To get to the amusement park and the UFA studios, we must take the RE7 train line from Berlin to the Medienstadt Babelberg station. . You can check the schedules in the following LINK.
Visit the UFA Film Studios
The park on the world of cinema located next to the old UFA studios can be visited by the public. Due to the seasonal nature of visits, the facilities are only open to the public on certain days of the year. You can check the opening days on its official website.