GAMIFIED NARRATIVES IN FILM EDUCATION: EXPERIENCE FROM CINEGAME UKRAINE

Abstract

In recent years, gamification has emerged as a powerful pedagogical strategy for increasing student engagement, particularly in creative disciplines where motivation, imagination, and narrative construction are essential. This paper presents the conceptual framework, design methodology, and preliminary outcomes of CineGame Ukraine – a research-based educational virtual game to enhance storytelling and storyboarding skills among emerging filmmakers in Ukraine.

The CineGame Ukraine project was developed within the framework of a Marie Skłodowska- Curie postdoctoral fellowship and is hosted by Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences. The project addresses a growing need in film and media education for learner-centered, interactive, and modular environments that combine traditional narrative theory with hands- on, experiential learning. It also responds to the challenges imposed by the war in Ukraine, which has disrupted traditional educational infrastructures and limited access to creative resources.