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The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Missing Cuban Teens Help 'Una Noche' Take Top Honors at Tribeca Film Fest

By Lisa Marsh | April 30, 2012 4:59pm
Actor Javier Nunez and co-star Anailin de la Rua De la Torre, both 20, have been missing since April 18, 2012, after a stopover in Miami from Cuba for a screening of their film "Una Noche" at the Tribeca Film Festival. Nunez Florian earned the festival's top actor prize for his performance.
Actor Javier Nunez and co-star Anailin de la Rua De la Torre, both 20, have been missing since April 18, 2012, after a stopover in Miami from Cuba for a screening of their film "Una Noche" at the Tribeca Film Festival. Nunez Florian earned the festival's top actor prize for his performance.
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Trevor Forrest and Shlomo Godder

TRIBECA — “Una Noche,” a film about Cuban teens dreaming about a better life in the United States, was a big winner at the Tribeca Film Festival.

The film’s director, Lucy Mulloy, was named Best New Director, its cinematographers, Trevor Forrest and Shlomo Godder, won Best Cinematography in a Narrative Feature Film and its two leading actors, Dariel Arrechada and Javier Nunez Florian, were named Best Actors in a Narrative Feature FIlm.

The film festival’s awards were announced Thursday evening at the Conrad Hotel in Battery Park City.

“Una Noche” tells the story of three Cuban teens who dream of escaping to Florida after the character Raul, played by Arrechada, is accused of assaulting a tourist.

However, Arrechada was the only actor from the film present to accept his award. Co-stars Anailin de la Rua de la Torre and Nunez Florian never showed up for a connecting flight from Miami to New York on their way to the Tribeca Film Festival from Cuba.

They are believed to be seeking asylum in the United States.

“Thank you so much Tribeca ... so much has happened and has changed people’s lives,” Mulloy said in her acceptance speech. “There are so many people I wish were here, like Anailin and Javier.”

Mulloy later told DNAinfo she has not heard from the wayward actors that seemed to be turning the tables — letting life imitate art.

“I’m not sure what has happened to them but it wouldn’t shock me,” to learn they were seeing asylum, she told DNAinfo. “I’m sure they would have loved to be here. This would have been a dream come true for them.” She added, “I don’t know if they were dreaming about being actors until we met. Once they realized that they had talent they got really passionate about it.”

The final screening of “Una Noche” will be Friday, April 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the Clearview Cinemas, Chelsea.

“War Witch,” the story of a kidnapped child-turned-soldier in Africa, also won top honors at the festival taking the Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature for director Kim Nguyen and Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Film was awarded to newcomer Rachel Mwanza.

Documentary prizes went to “The World Before Her,” directed by Nisha Pahuja for feature length and "Paraiso," directed by Nadav Kurtz, for short length. Best Narrative Short was “Asad,” directed by Bryan Buckley for Best Narrative Short.