Contemporary cinemeducation: Transdisciplinary exchange at Locarno Film Festival.

Abstract

Film-based pedagogy, especially cinemeducation as a teaching methodology, has become more visible as an arts and humanities teaching format. However, many existing cinemeducation courses at medical schools use films that, while valuable in their time, may no longer reflect current societal or medical discourses. This study aimed to identify contemporary films that resonate with present-day issues in medicine, assess students' motivation to engage with cinemeducation, and explore interest in transdisciplinary learning. For the first time, three medical students participated in BaseCamp at the Locarno Film Festival, a young talents program that fosters transdisciplinary exchange. They screened festival films with medical themes and organised a 75-minute workshop with students from film, natural sciences, arts, and medicine. The workshop focused on how students from these fields can collaborate to create transdisciplinary learning environments. The students identified seven films with medical topics in the Locarno Film Festival program. Evaluations showed that the students were highly motivated to further engage with cinemeducation and promote transdisciplinary education. The exchange generated innovative approaches, including the use of video essays for cinemeducation and producing films together with art and film students. Medical students like to exchange ideas with other cinemeducation projects worldwide, which is supported by a mean Likert score of 1.3 (n=3). A transdisciplinary medical film festival and a cinemeducation symposium could be a first step.