EDITING (BA)

About the Study Program

The three-year undergraduate university program in Editing is a unique higher education study program distinguished by its long-standing tradition, excellence, and artistic creative work. It involves acquiring knowledge and skills in the areas of film and television editing, as well as sound editing for short and medium-length films. The Editing program is divided into a three-year undergraduate study (BA) and a two-year graduate study (MA) with two specializations: Editing and Sound Design.

The undergraduate Editing program develops professional knowledge, skills, creativity, and the essential know-how required to realize simpler and moderately complex films and other audiovisual works. The program is based on the latest theoretical and aesthetic knowledge of how film functions as an art form, while also keeping up with technological changes that result from advancements in digital technology and the film industry.

Independent assignments within the main artistic subjects of Editing and Sound Editing are structured to gradually present students with increasingly complex tasks related to editing and dramaturgical constructions. The artistic courses in Editing and Sound Editing are organized as a combination of work presentations, group analysis, and discussions (brainstorming), with theoretical lectures, demonstrations, and the exchange of experiences.

History and Tradition

There are numerous fields where highly educated and creative editors are needed, such as in film and the ever-expanding television/video production, dynamic visual design of contemporary media environments, and computer multimedia processing. Due to the awareness of editing as a key creative component and an exceptionally powerful expressive tool in all these areas, there has been a growing demand for additional university education. The graduate Editing program relies on contemporary theoretical, aesthetic, and creative knowledge about film, film production, and the production of other audiovisual works, making it a unique program in Croatia.

The Editing program was founded in 1969 by Radojka Tanhofer, a renowned film editor, and Branko Belan, a film director and film scholar. From the very beginning, the program was conceived as an independent artistic study, but in its realization, it has been closely connected with the Film and Television Directing Department, the Cinematography Department, and the Production Department. The study of editing has always been based on practical artistic work. Students work independently on their editing exercises and collaborate with students from related programs on joint projects, giving them the opportunity to familiarize themselves with industry principles and the values of teamwork. In addition to artistic courses, students also take professionally related courses as well as theoretical and film studies courses.

In 2005, with the introduction of the Bologna reform, the graduate Editing program was launched, which is divided into two specializations: Editing and Sound Design. The graduate Editing program is based on the understanding that the editing construction of a film is one of the key creative aspects of film (film production and its experiential effect). It allows students to acquire highly developed skills, creativity, and knowledge. Students gain practical experience working on complex editing projects in the fields of feature and documentary films, as well as specialized forms.

About the Teachers

The Editing Department places great emphasis on creating and maintaining generational diversity among the teachers of the main artistic subjects. This ensures continuity in the transfer of skills, knowledge, and experience from contemporary post-production of films and other audiovisual works, while maintaining professional standards. The department’s teachers are experienced film and sound editors, designers of film and television sound, and creators of visual identities and graphic solutions for film and new media. They also work in the area of developing film literacy. Throughout their studies, students work with different teachers in the main artistic subjects, allowing them to gain insight into the broad and rich artistic and creative work of the instructors, giving them a comprehensive understanding of the field of editing and sound editing.

Teachers in the Editing Department include: Bernarda Fruk (Assoc. Prof. Art.), Sandra Botica Brešan (Assoc. Prof. Art.), Vesna Biljan Pušić (Asst. Prof. Art.), Jelena Modrić (Asst. Prof. Art.), Davor Švaić (Asst. Prof. Art.), Mato Ilijić (Asst. Prof. Art.), Vladimir Gojun (Asst. Prof. Art.), Ina Bijelić (Lecturer Art.), and Ivan Zelić (Lecturer Art.).

Career Prospects after Graduation

Upon completion of the undergraduate program, students receive the title of Bachelor of Editing (univ. bacc. art.). Successful graduates are equipped to continue their studies within the graduate program of the Editing Department, or they can pursue graduate programs in other departments at the Academy of Dramatic Art, as well as at other related higher education institutions and academies.