Santo Domingo, R.D.- The School of Communication of the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) concluded this Friday the nineteenth edition of the university short film festival “Semana Más Corta 2026”, with the presentation of awards to the best audiovisual projects.
The festival showcased a total of 29 short films, distributed over four days of screenings, from Monday the 16th to Thursday the 19th of this month of March, with more than 60 minutes of daily projection.
In the closing day dedicated to the recognition of the best works, eight awards were presented. The highest distinction, “
Best Short Film Semana Más Corta 2026”, was awarded to the short film “El colmadón”, by students María Fernanda Sánchez and María Laura Ben Pérez. “El colmadón”, a fiction that portrays the identity of these spaces through the story of its owner, don Manuel, and his desire to sell the business to retire in New York, also won “
Best Direction” and “
Best Editing”.
“Best Screenplay” was awarded to “Un regard”, by student Lolie Taína Bogen, an experimental short film about the memories of a man who lost his sight. In the “Best Documentary” category, the winner was “Apartadas, pero no solas”, also by Lolie Taína Bogen, an entry that follows the daily life of a nun inside her convent.
The recognition for “
Best Photography” went to
“Steel Sun”, a work by Mía Arache Germosén, inspired by the story “La mujer” by Juan Bosch. Likewise, “De guitarra y corazón”, by students Albanelys Taveras and Chantal González, was distinguished as “
Best Audiovisual Thesis”. This short documentary analyzes bachata as a musical genre intimately linked to Dominican history, struggle, and traditions.
The “
Audience Award” was won by “I’m starving,” by Hannah Wagner, a drama about a young graduate poet of performing arts. And “
Best Interuniversity Short” went to the drama
“Lacuna,” by student Diana Tejada, representing Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE). It tells the story of a young filmmaker’s crisis as she struggles to finish a short film about her father.
The jury that evaluated these works was composed of the president of the Dominican Association of Press and Film Criticism,
Dahiana Acosta; by the publicist, film analyst and also a member of the film criticism association,
José Aquino, and by the architect and photographer, member of the Cinependiente collective,
Smayle Domínguez.
This edition was dedicated to Dominican literature and its influence on cinema. The exalted ones of this evening will project their audiovisual this Wednesday, March 25, on the cinema screen of Caribbean Cinema, at Galería 360, starting at 6:00 pm.
In addition, the winners of the best short film of the year, best screenplay, direction, best editing, and interuniversity short film, each received a savings account with La Nacional de Ahorros y Préstamos, worth RD$5,000.
The festival was supported by the Central Electoral Board (JCE), Banco Popular Dominicano, DGCINE, Caribbean Cinemas, La Nacional de Ahorros y Préstamos, CDN, Canal 37, Listín Diario, Con Edith Febles, El Nuevo Diario, El Caribe, El Dinero, RTVD, Canal 16 and TV 24, How To Be a Brand, Newlink, Café Santo Domingo, Coffee Mate, Kit Kat, Camuy Films and ADOPRESCI.
