The Dominican short film “Caballo Blanco” (The White Horse), written and directed by young filmmaker Ramón Alfonso Peña Rodríguez was recognized at the 10th edition of the 21 Islands International Short Film Festival 2026 held in New York.
The film secured two major awards in a highly competitive field:
• Best Screenplay: Awarded to Ramón Alfonso Peña Rodríguez.
• Best Acting: Awarded to Clara Morel for her portrayal of the lead character, Andrea.
The 2026 edition of the festival featured 3,007 submissions representing 21 island nations, states, and territories worldwide. The competition spanned various categories, including animation, documentary, experimental, and narrative filmmaking.
About “Caballo Blanco”
Produced by Vicio Films and Producciones Saeta, the 14-minute short explores themes of family and caregiving through a lens of drama and suspense. The plot: During the weekend, Andrea visits her father Alberto to take care of him. Alberto suffers from Alzheimer’s and wants to ride a mysterious white horse that, for some reason, Andrea feels has bad intentions towards him. Before returning to his town, she decides to do everything possible to make the horse disappear.
Director Ramón Peña dedicated the film to Dominican women who serve as primary caregivers for the sick or disabled, while calling for men to take a more active role in these responsibilities. The film can be viewed on the Vicio Films YouTube channel.
Read more:
Vicio Films YouTube channel
Diario Libre
21 Islands Film Festival
22 April 2026