Ringling College of Art and Design Film graduate Rodrigo Perez ’25 has been named a finalist at the 31st Annual Palm Beaches Student Showcase of Films (SSOF) for his short film Contigo. The event, hosted at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre in Jupiter, Florida, takes place May 1, 2026.
Contigo follows Jade, a young woman who returns to the site of a secret experiment in Venezuela to uncover the truth about what was done to her, and to confront the man responsible. Perez, who directed and co-wrote the film, describes it as one of the first action films produced at Ringling College, a distinction he takes pride in.
“Contigo was a very ambitious film with a lot of moving parts, but also an incredibly fulfilling experience,” said Perez. “It was special to make one of the first action films at Ringling. This film took so much energy and commitment from everyone involved, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the cast and crew who helped bring it to life.”
A hallmark of the production was its collaboration with industry stunt professionals. Stunt actors Jewelianna Ramos-Ortiz and Justin Ortiz, who also served as stunt coordinator, brought a level of action design rarely seen in student filmmaking. “Collaborating with industry stunt actors like Jewelianna Ramos-Ortiz and Justin Ortiz really elevated the film, allowing us to implement quality action design while still staying true to the story,” Perez added.
The film features a cast that includes Ramos-Ortiz as lead character Jade, Yamil Piedra as Miguel Torres, and Alex Mancillas and Haley Glass in supporting roles. The crew was composed largely of fellow Ringling students, with co-writer and director of photography Tan Kitapli, producers Michaela Cowan and Hayley Kirk, and composer Sergio De Miguel among the collaborators who helped shape the film’s final form.
Now in its 31st year, the Palm Beaches Student Showcase of Films is Florida’s largest student film competition, drawing more than 600 submissions in 2026. The program, which has awarded over $4.5 million in prizes and scholarships since its founding in 1995, is open free of charge to Florida high school and college students.
Perez expressed gratitude for the recognition. “I’m grateful to the Palm Beach Student Showcase for this recognition and for giving student filmmakers a platform to share their films and celebrate their hard work and talent.”
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