LIT Student Is People’s Choice At Smedia Awards 2021.

President of LIT Professor Vincent Cunnane has congratulated third year LIT Creative Broadcast and Film Production student Ms Alyssa Fleming who won the People’s Choice Award at the Smedia Awards 2021, with her film “The Daily Grind“.

The Daily Grind (Short Film) from alyssamfleming on Vimeo.

“Winning a National Student Media Award – or Smedia – in any year is a great achievement, but to create an award-winning film during a time when our movements were limited due to a global pandemic is particularly significant. Alyssa and her fellow students have shown great determination, creativity and resolve to create such excellent work despite the Covid-19 restrictions,” said Professor Cunnane.

“I would like to congratulate Alyssa on her success and acknowledge the work of her fellow creative broadcast student Matt Murphy, who expertly edited the winning film The Daily Grind. Credit must also go to the LIT teaching staff, who continue to teach, encourage and inspire the next generation of broadcasters and film makers.”

Ms Nora Ní Fhlathárta, Programme Leader, Creative Broadcast & Film Production congratulated the Smedia People Choice Award winner, while also paying tribute to LIT’s Laura Mannix, the first-year student of Creative Broadcast, who was nominated for the Short Animation of the Year award

“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic many students had to restructure their original film plans so as to adhere to Government health guidelines. However, all was not lost as sometimes, having to restructure allowed students to embrace formats they might never have considered. Troubleshooting is part and parcel of film making and we are so proud of all our film students who have created a diverse and unique range of film and audio projects this year,” she said.

Alyssa Fleming’s award-winning film tells the story of a stressed coffee shop owner who pushes her eccentric staff for ideas to save the business during lockdown.

Speaking following receiving her Smedia award, Alyssa said, “I’m very grateful to everyone who voted for The Daily Grind and I am also very grateful to my actors and Matt Murphy for editing the piece. Making a film during lockdown was tough, but the final product is something that I am very proud of.”