Deutsches Filmmuseum

The Deutsches Filmmuseum, now part of the Deutsches Filminstitut and Filmmuseum (DFF), stands at Schaumainkai 41 on the Museumsufer, the row of museums along the south bank of the Main in Frankfurt's Sachsenhausen quarter. The museum presents the history of cinema from the earliest optical toys and pre-cinema devices to modern film technology, in a permanent exhibition that covers the technology, artistry and culture of the moving image. Visitors encounter early projectors, shadow-play objects, camera equipment, film posters and interactive stations that explain how film sets, special effects and sound work. The exhibition is aimed at both film enthusiasts and general visitors, and changing special exhibitions complement the permanent display. The adjoining arthouse cinema screens classic films, restored prints and festival programmes, often in the original language with subtitles, which makes the museum a good choice for an evening visit in the state of Hesse. A visit to the permanent exhibition takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, and a film screening adds another 90 minutes or more. Like many German museums, it is usually closed on Mondays, and visitors should confirm opening hours and ticket prices on dff.film before going, since these change with the exhibition schedule. The museum is a ten-minute walk from Schweizer Platz, which is served by trams and buses, and lies close to the Städel Museum and Liebieghaus, so it combines well with a museum-hopping day. Crowds are light on weekday afternoons and heavier on rainy weekends and school holidays. Photography rules differ by exhibit, and visitors should look for signs. The riverside promenade outside provides a pleasant place to rest between museums, with views across the Main to the skyline.