Visual Media Lab Conference 2025

The Unfolding of Artistic Activity in Film Education: A Case Study

This paper examines the challenge of assessing artistic growth in film students, an often- overlooked aspect of film education. Drawing from art psychology, cognitive science, and educational philosophy, we propose a framework that explores the interplay between experience and perception in creative development. Our study presents findings from a semi- longitudinal analysis of student filmmaking exercises at the Baltic Film, Media, and Arts School (BFM). By evaluating the progression of perceptual thinking, the formation of perceptual schemas, and the acquisition of cinematic representational skills over the course of a semester, we provide empirical insights into the creative cognition involved in filmmaking. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on artistic development in media education and aligns with the Reality Check theme of the Visual Media Lab Conference 2025 by offering a critical examination of artistic training in contemporary film schools.