SPOTLIGHT ON OUR QUERCUS SCHOLARS!

10 Mar 2025

The Department of Film and Screen Media is delighted to extend our warmest congratulations to Laura Fioretti (BAFX2) and Sean Leahy (BAFX3), who were awarded prestigious Quercus College scholarships for the academic year 2024-5.

The Quercus College Scholarship is awarded to students that have achieved excellence in their academic work. You can find out more about the Scholarship by clicking this link: https://www.ucc.ie/en/scholarships/undergrad/arts/artsschqcsc/

Laura Fioretti is a second-year BA Film and Screen Media student with a minor in English Literature. Born and raised in France, her multicultural background has shaped how she connects with film and other artistic mediums. Passionate about stop-motion animation, mixed-media art, and writing, she has recently developed an interest in photography. Laura is focused on developing her academic studies and her creative portfolio and aspires to pursue a career in the creative field.

Séan Leahy is a third-year BA in Film and Screen Media. A student member of the Irish Film and Television Academy’s (IFTA) Directing Chapter, Séan blends academic study with hands-on filmmaking experience. His short films, including An Unnerving Realisation and The Marina, have been screened at festivals such as Fastnet Film Festival and IndieCork. His latest project, For Séamus, is his most ambitious project to date, an intimate, longer-form short set in rural Ireland. Inspired by real experiences, it explores themes of family, legacy, and the unspoken tensions between fathers and sons. The film balances emotional realism with cinematic storytelling and is now set to begin its festival journey.    Beyond his own filmmaking, Seán is deeply involved in grassroots cinema in Cork, serving as the Events Manager for The People’s Picturehouse Cork.

Seán’s work may be viewed on www.seanleahyfilm.com