Puttnam Scholarship recipients 2023 - 2024

Eight UCC students have been awarded the prestigious title of Puttnam Scholar. The Puttnam Scholarship programme offers UCC students from any discipline the opportunity to work with and learn from digital education pioneer Lord David Puttnam, Oscar-winning producer of films including Chariots of Fire, The Mission, The Killing Fields, and Midnight Express. This year’s scholars are final-year and postgraduate students studying Experimental Sound, Sociology, Business Information Systems, Film & Screen Media, English Literature, French and Theatre & Performative Practices.

Puttnam Scholarship recipients 2023 - 2024

Lorena Chierchini is a final-year BA Film and Screen Media student with a minor in French. Having received the Quercus Entry Scholarship, this helped her pursue her interest in film at third level, and develop a special interest in editing and cinematography. She has been very involved in UCC Societies throughout her University career, which has brought some amazing opportunities, such as travelling to the Enactus World Cup 2022 in Puerto Rico as a videographer with the Irish Delegation and winning the Best Green Initiative Award at BICS 2022/23 among other achievements. She also enjoys volunteering in the organisation of UCC Cancer Society's yearly Relay for Life event. She can't wait to jump right into the Puttnam Scholarship programme and work with some talented new people!

Portia Ameyalli García Cruz is an MA student in Film & Screen Media and recipient of the 2023 GOI-IES scholarship and served as a Jury Delegate at the 36th European Film Awards, representing UCC. Hailing from Mexico City and a graduate from Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, her cinematic passion spans film restoration, honed during an internship at the National Archive of Mexico. From her roles as a camerawoman covering cultural and political news to experiences as a first assistant director, cinematographer, and director in various short films and feature films, Portia contributes to the diverse landscape of filmmaking. As an international student, she aspires to foster collaboration and support in the global filmmaking community, leveraging cinema's power to showcase diverse narratives and challenge singular perspectives. Portia also expresses a profound interest in the involvement of collectives, particularly emphasizing the representation of indigenous communities and their integral role in the extensive system of independent workers, valuing both self-sustainability and cultural contributions to Mexico.

Lucía Dwyer is a sound designer, recordist, post-audio engineer and sound installation artist. Lucía graduated with top honours in a BA Film & TV from the National Film School in 2023, having received a full academic scholarship. Since then, she has worked in various roles in sound, including film, sonic art installations, radio plays, and live TV, and is currently working in the sound department at Virgin Media Television. In addition to her professional pursuits, Lucía is pursuing her MA in Experimental Sound Practice at UCC. Alongside her work in sound, Lucía has directed numerous short films and experimental projects for both stage and screen, demonstrating proficiency in screenwriting, sound for film, film production and directing.

Dorothée Karekezi is a multidisciplinary artist born and raised in Brussels. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Journalism from IHECS Brussels School and a Master's degree in Business Communication & Digital Media from Tilburg University. She practised performative arts in Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands before settling in Ireland. Dorothée is a writer and an actor fascinated about storytelling, and especially interested in elevating silenced voices and stories from marginalised human beings. She believes in creative practices that are meaningful, impactful and disruptive. In 2022, Dorothée wrote, filmed and produced her first poetry film reflecting on her multicultural identity. The film named 'Someone should tell them' was screened in Venice during the 2023 Canvas International Art Fair and in Lisbon as part of the official selection for JAFEST2023 Poetry Film Competition. She has worked with ZID Theater in Amsterdam as a theatre performer, taking part in the FATE project during one year. Dorothée is currently a mature student in Theatre & Performative Practices (Higher Diploma in Arts) and finishing her internship as a Youth Theatre Facilitator at Graffiti Theatre Company. She also writes poems in French and in English.

George Lynch is a student filmmaker based in Cork, doing his final year in BA Film & Screen Media with a minor in English. George started his filmmaking journey by making stop-motion films with his Lego figures, and has written and directed a numerous of short films in the years that followed. He has garnered awards and official selections from a dozen film festivals around the world, including Best Young Filmmaker (Under 19) at Fastnet Film Festival 2019, and having his latest short film Unseen Riders screened at IndieCork 2023. George has been involved in many roles in filmmaking, learning everything that goes into the tasks of making a film. He was a member of the Youth Council for the First Cut! Youth Film Festival, graduated from the Acting-for-Camera courses from Actorsvision, is currently a freelance video editor for wedding videos, was the cinematographer of a feature film, a sound operator for a feature film, and a location assistant for the Screen Ireland and Heritage short film, Two for the Road. George is highly interested in characters and storytelling, and is invested in how stories are able to reflect ourselves and our current landscape. He hopes for one day in the future to gain more professional writing credits in the Irish film industry, and use that experience to bring more screenwriting resources into Cork.

Eoin O’Brien is a 4^th-year undergraduate Business Information Systems student with a passion for technology and entrepreneurship. After his studies he will be pursuing a role in the technology sector. Outside of college he has a particular interest in cinema and learning more about film production and the broader film industry. He believes that the Lord Puttnam Scholarship represents a great opportunity to learn more about the film industry and entrepreneurship.

Tess O’Regan is a final year student of Film and Screen Media with English Literature. Particularly passionate about video-editing, writing and producing, her personal research is devoted to theories of gender, ecocriticism, temporality and postcolonialism. She was awarded the Quercus College Scholarship for Film and Screen Media in both 2022 and 2023 and was delighted to win the third prize of the Dr H. H. Stewart Award in English from the National University of Ireland in 2022. An avid writer, she is a regular contributor to the Motley magazine and is its current Assistant Entertainment Editor. She intends to pursue a Masters in Modern English Literature at UCC next year.

Finja Schroetter is a final year student in the BA Film & Screen Media from Germany with a minor in Sociology. After living in Australia and New Zealand she has become very fond of both travel and experiencing different cultures and has also developed a greater passion for cinema. UCC has allowed her to produce her own film projects and her work has been screened at the Fastnet Film Festival official selection and UCC showcase 2023. She aspires to continuously work on films outside of college, as she has done with friends over the last years.  Finja commented “As I would like to specialize my personal strengths in film, I believe that the Lord Puttnam Scholarship can help me with future steps. I feel thankful and honoured for this opportunity.”

Puttnam Scholarship recipients 2022 - 2023

Maryam Alabi is a 4th-year undergraduate Children’s and General Integrated Nursing student. Her college time is split between theory-based lectures and clinical placements. From her academic studies and exams, she was honoured to be selected as a Quercus College Scholar for the College of Medicine and Health. Although her profession is majorly medical, science, and clinically based, art, photography, and film, especially cinematics, represent some of her favourite interests and hobbies. She believes that engaging in the Putnam Scholarship is a great way for her to employ her creative traits alongside her academic expertise.

Mark Callanan is a 21-year-old final year law student from Cork. With a passion for many things including sport and music, Mark has a particular interest in cinema and learning more about film production. He hopes to pursue a career in the legal sector while using the Lord Puttnam Scholarship as an opportunity to learn more about the film industry while further developing his passion for cinema. 

Sarah Jessica Dunne is a final year student in BA Film & Screen Media with a minor in Sociology. In 2022, Sarah was selected as a Youth Juror for the 67th Cork International Film Festival and in 2021 was the Jury Delegate that represented Denmark for the 34th European Film Awards. Now, she is the head content creator for UCC International’s digital platforms. In addition she is heavily involved in running events for International students and helps lead the UCC International Office Swap Shop. She hopes to continue contributing to the European film festival circuit and produce visual digital content for organisations that she values. She is thrilled and honoured to be awarded a Puttnam Scholarship for the coming cycle.

Rachel Gough is a PhD researcher at the Department of Film & Screen Media at University College Cork. Her research focuses on representations of rural Ireland’s ecologies in film, television and video games. Her other research interests include the folk horror genre, representations of gender, history and postcolonialism. She is an award winning filmmaker and published short fiction writer. In 2022 she was the recipient of the Editor’s Choice award from the National Flash Fiction Anthology.

Bob Jackson is a filmmaker, author, and lecturer at the Munster Technological University, Ireland. He is working towards completion of a PhD Film & Screen Media (Creative Practice) at University College Cork, in December 2024. He is currently working on a live action drama series with the support of Screen Ireland. He previously produced a feature length documentary (2015) and wrote a book (2016), both titled A Doctor’s Sword. A Doctor’s Sword (documentary) had a seven-week run in Irish cinemas, was nominated for an IFTA award (2016) and has been broadcast throughout the world via RTÉ, PBS, Sky Arts, Discovery Channel Asia, and Amazon Prime.

Elle O’Leary Kelleher is a post-graduate student from Cork. She is currently carrying out research on controversy and censorship in contemporary Irish cinema and theatre. She is also a writer experienced in many disciplines, from playwriting and music journalism, to creating scripts for audio dramas. Elle is especially interested in creating works of horror out of everyday situations, and explorations of marginalised identities. Elle is also a self-trained musician, and enjoys playing guitar with experimental post-punk band I Dreamed I Dream. Elle is honoured to be a Puttnam scholar.

Puttnam Scholarship recipients 2021 - 2022

Debismita Dutta is an aspiring material scientist from India, with a passion for science and an inkling for arts. When not found in the lab or studying the latest developments in her field, she can be found writing poems, screenplays, and painting. The Puttnam Scholarship is the perfect chance for her to communicate her scientific endeavors while simultaneously honing her artistic eye.

Alex Pacino Brady, born and raised in the northside of Cork City, is a final year student in the BA Film & Screen Media with a minor in English. With a particular skill set in music production and sound engineering, Alex hopes to link his auditory knowledge to the visual medium of film, merging both image and audio in exciting ways. Apart from his studies, Alex acts in a facilitation role for young people who wish to explore music production and content creation through The Kabin Studio, paving the way for new generations.

Amano Miura is a mature student in her final year of BA Religions and Politics. Her research interests include material religions, endangered global heritage, and political philosophy. Amano is the Chairperson of UCC Fáilte Refugees Society and was recently awarded the Bene Merenti for her contribution to student Societies. She is also the winner of the 2021 Iress Undergraduate Essay Prize awarded by the Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religions. Amano also writes features for UCC Motley Magazine and is a published poet and creative writer. Amano wrote this short poem reflecting on the scholarship experience from start to finish - 'hyphen'

Benjamin Rupprecht is a MA student in Film & Screen Media at UCC. He did his undergraduate degree in Theatre and Media Studies and History and has since worked in the German film industry for three years. Next to working in the AD department for different television and cinema productions, he has produced and directed his own short films and is now hoping to establish his voice as a filmmaker even more through the scholarship and his studies in Ireland. Besides his film work he keeps a major interest in the theatre scene and is always looking forward to opportunities of intermedial and international collaborations.

Aoibh Kingston is a fourth year Science Education student with a passion for art in all its forms. She was the Chairwoman of UCC’s Arts and Crafts Society ‘Scribble’ for 2020 -2021. She has helped film, edit, narrate and create music for the ‘Scribble Spotlight’ monthly art videos that showcased art in Cork City. She plans to become qualified as an Art teacher along with being a Science Teacher, and is interested in holistic forms of schooling that combine creativity with education. She is honoured to be awarded a Puttnam Scholarship.

Callum Casey is a final year Film & Screen media student with a minor in English Literature.  An avid reader, writer and cinephile from a young age, Callum always knew his calling was to work within the film industry. Since moving from rural Kerry to Cork for University, Callum has immersed himself in the city’s culture and taken every opportunity afforded to him, being nominated for a national media award for his work with the UCC Express, having his first short film 'Gumshoe' as an official selection in several national film festivals and creating his own freelance videography business. During the pandemic, Callum took a year out and relocated to the UK, where he has gone from strength to strength, branching out into music photography and taking a position as head of video production at an independent music label based in Leeds.In the future, Callum hopes to complete a Masters degree in Cinematography and eventually write and direct his own narrative work, while also continuing to create music videos. He is also passionate about the democratisation of the art form and hopes to create a scheme that allows young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain access and experience to filmmaking opportunities and skills.

Matthew Xavier Corrigan is a musican, songwriter, producer, and poet from Cork City, Ireland. His work across disciplines has led to performances at festivals around Europe, music in major media and collaborations on everything from plays and theatre to art installations and exhibitions. He is known primarily for his work as Ghostking as Dead and with artist Alex Gough, as well as cofounder of Irish arts collectives 'Hausu' and 'important! audio'.

Naoise McGuinness is currently studying the MA in Creative Writing at UCC, for which she received the Miriam Cotter scholarship. She runs a blog centred around child welfare in Ireland, and enjoys the art of creative non-fiction as a tool in education. Naoise believes in education through creativity, and creativity as therapy for all.

Puttnam Scholarship recipients 2020 - 2021

Geraldine Boyle is a Masters student in Film and Screen Media. With a BA in Photography, her work has been exhibited at the Royal Ulster Academy on two separate occasions.  Originally from Belfast, she has spent the last five years working for the BBC in London, specialising as a Drone Operator. She has filmed for series such as Panorama and Gardeners’ World, but hopes to expand her knowledge within the Irish film industry, and become an established filmmaker.

Colette Forde is currently in her final year studying Youth and Community Work and founded Teen Speak to destigmatize therapy and promote help-seeking behaviours in young people. Her debut one-woman show innit, which she also starred in, met with sell-out success in Cork and had a four-week run Off-Broadway, New York, providing a platform to address her audiences fervently about the need for a cultural change in mental health attitudes. Her film, Dovetail, was recently funded by the Screen Skills Ireland and Bow Street Academy's: Actor as Creator grant. She is “beyond thrilled to avail of this incredible opportunity.”

Mahito Indi Henderson is a postgraduate student in the MA in Creative Writing programme at University College Cork and a 2020 GOI-IES awardee. Hailing from Boulder, Colorado, USA, he has received various grants to pursue filmmaking, creative writing, and painting. In 2017 he received a Media Arts Grant to write and direct a short film, Final Sprint, and in 2019 he was awarded a Summer Undergraduate Research Grant for a series of oil paintings, illustrations, and short stories. As a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, he is interested in the intersection of art, culture, and racial identity.

Harry McCann is an award-winning entrepreneur and final year student of the BA in Digital Humanities & Information Technology at UCC. He has also been a significant voice in youth affairs and in the media. He is a regular contributor to several national television and radio shows and an op-ed columnist with the Irish Independent and thejournal.ie. Harry was awarded a Quercus Scholarship for Entrepreneurship and Innovation by UCC.

Abnoos Mosleh-Shirazi is a medical student from Canada who has always had a passion for cinema: “I grew up watching the Academy awards ever since I could remember. I would watch all the nominated movies with my family and root for my favourites. I’ve learned a lot about life, emotions, personalities and relationships through cinema. Though I plan to become an anaesthesiologist, I really wanted to pay homage to my passion for movies while I can with this amazing opportunity, the Lord Puttnam Scholarship.”

Máire Murphy is a final year student in the BA Film and Screen Media, with a minor in English. She is hoping to work in the field of representation, creating content in different forms of media. With a background in multi-instrumentalism, activism, seamstress work, performing, debating and writing, she hopes to approach her work with a cross-disciplinary attitude to creativity.

Ramish Qayyum is a final year Neuroscience student. Born in Pakistan, he moved to Ireland when he was seven and now lives in Fermoy, Co. Cork. ”Neuroscience is an exciting and challenging field of study and as passionate as I am about my course I am just as passionate about creative writing and filmmaking and so I have always tried to develop and sustain both my academic and creative interests.”

Célem Roche Deegan is a final year undergraduate student in Film & Screen Media, with a minor degree in Economics, from New Ross, Co. Wexford. ”Growing up, I was very much community-orientated. I played several sports and was an active sea scout for over eleven years. I recently completely a year of study in Leeds Trinity University, where I studied modules in public relations, marketing, tv genre, tv production, radio production and film. I hope to combine my knowledge and deep love for film with many years’ experience of successful team-orientated projects.“

Puttnam Scholarship recipients 2019 - 2020

Ellen O’Regan (22) from Cobh in Co. Cork is currently in the final year of a law degree and hopes to become a writer.

Jessica Donohoe (23) from Crosshaven is a final year student in Medicine and Surgery in UCC who has always been passionate about the arts and attended the Montfort College of Performing Arts and Cork School of Music for 10 years to pursue training in dramatic studies.

Marcus Hogan is a Final Year World Languages Student who has a particular interest in East-German perspectives on German reunification and Human Rights Literature in the Chilean and Argentinian context.

Conach Gibson is a 22 year old Criminology student studying at University College Cork. After being born in the United States and later moving to Ireland, Conach’s lived experiences have shaped her understanding of different societies and historical contexts. She believes that film production is an important aspect of spreading and sharing information to a wider audience, especially those outside of academia.

Casey Hynes is a student in the MA in Film and Screen Media in UCC. She is from Mitchelstown, Co. Cork and hopes to pursue a career in the film industry, namely in screenwriting, directing and editing.

Mary Kelleher is a student in the Masters Program in Planning and Sustainable Development in UCC and is particularly interested in human ecology and environmental psychology.

Harry White, is 20 years old and a final year student of the BA in Film and Screen Media at UCC, his debut film The Lion’s Den (2018) was selected to be screened at the Indie Cork Film Festival.

Puttnam Scholarship recipients 2018 - 2019

Elinor Dolliver

"My name is Eli Dolliver, a final year film student of the BA in Film and Screen Media here in UCC. I live and work in Cork with my sisters and mother, my dog Moose, and my cat Púca. I have a deep and passionate love for film, from independent art house cinema and hard hitting documentaries to sci-fi, horror, and monster movies. I take a minor in English, where my studies in Shakespearean, Victorian, and Anglo-Saxon literature all inform my filmmaking and storytelling practice."

Lucy Creedon

'I am in my Final Year of Bachelor of Arts degree at UCC, doing a Major in English and a minor in the History of Art. I have always possessed a keen interest in both English literature and creative writing. However, it was not until college that this enthusiasm developed to include the visual arts via my History of Art modules, the film modules I selected as part of my English major, and the camera that I was given last Christmas. I am extremely excited to be involved in the Puttnam Scholarship!'

Andy Killian

I am a final year civil engineering student from Cork, disciplining in the environmental stream. From a young age I have always invested the majority of my time in all things creative. Classically trained in piano and self-taught in guitar, I began composing music at the age of thirteen, and from here started producing music. I’d consider myself a multi-instrumentalist, playing drums for a band ‘Pretty Happy’ and guitar for another called ‘Selkies’. I am also self-taught in bass guitar and synth, out of necessity to utilize these instruments in my own compositions. I also have a great interest in acting, starring in local bands’ music videos and college student short films.

My acknowledgeable accomplishments to date are all composition and production related, including self-producing an EP (2017) and an album (2018) under my own name, and another short EP under the alias “Glassy Overture” (2018). Under this alias I managed to win the 2018 UCC Singer-songwriter competition. I have also produced two singles with Pretty Happy (2017, 2018) and was the master engineer for Selkies’ debut EP (2018).

After graduating from my Bachelor’s degree, I plan to do a masters in either film scoring or music production, to turn my passion into a career in the Creative Industries.

Oisin O’Driscoll

Oisín O’Driscoll, born and raised in Fermoy, County Cork. Coming from a creative family background of designers and musicians he went on to study Film and Screen Media in UCC and is a recent graduate. During his studies he focused his interests in film and developed skills in screenwriting and directing with the help from the fantastic staff in the Film Department. His films to date have focused on alienation, individual social standing in modern Ireland and gender issues. He is delighted to have gained the opportunity to further his passion for film and ultimately help him reach his screenwriting goals through the awarding of the Puttnam Scholarship.

Ben Whyte O’Callaghan

Ben Whyte O’Callaghan, born and bred In Blackrock, County Cork. Ben comes from a sporting family, with his father representing Cork in Gaelic Football and his mother representing Ireland in athletics. Although Ben did have an interest in sport, his true passion was creativity and story writing. Due to his interest in short story writing from a very early age and being introduced to the world of film through classic westerns from his grandfather, Ben went on to study Film and Screen Media in UCC and is now in his final year.  His main interest is in screenwriting and hopes to continue developing this skill within the industry in the future. After spending a year in Germany and working on several projects there, Ben hopes to move abroad again when he is finished in UCC to experience and work in the film industry in another country once again. Ben was absolutely thrilled to receive the Puttnam scholarship, as he feels it could bring him one step closer to achieving his goal of becoming a screenwriter in the future. He’s extremely honoured and excited to be under the support and guidance of Lord Puttnam over the coming weeks and is greatly looking forward to working with the other scholars.   

Liam Fleming

Liam Levaro Fleming. I’m from all over the shop; I was born in the USA, swiftly moved to Limerick, before moving to Torrevieja, Spain, for a large chunk my childhood, and finally I moved back to Limerick in time for secondary school, and I've yet to adapt to the weather.

I’ve always considered myself a creative but my outlets during secondary school were limited to art class and acting on the weekend. I have also always been into technology, mostly thanks to a bit too much time spent playing computer games, but this interest went equally under-stimulated in school.

I ended up studying digital humanities & I.T. in UCC so that I could nurture these two neglected passions of mine - creativity and technology - which I have come to discover are deeply intertwined with one another.

Most recently I’ve returned from my 3rd year abroad in Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, where I was mostly studying interactive media modules like game design and immersive sound, while also dabbling in animation & film-making.

While I’ve recently been forced to shift focus to the impending doom that is final year I'm still finding solace in creativity through audiovisual class projects, my FYP, and now above all through being a Puttnam scholar.