Cuban ‘defector film’ takes Tribeca prizes

A movie about Cuban boat people, whose stars have gone missing, has won three prizes at the Tribeca Film Festival.The best actor award went to Javier Nunez Florian, who disappeared with his co-star Analin de la Rua de la Torre, en route to the festival.Their movie, Una Noche, is about three Cuban teenagers who defect to the US.London-born Lucy Molloy won best new director for the film, while African drama War Witch was named best narrative feature.Its star, Rachel Mwanza, won the best actress prize, for her role as a girl who is abducted and forced to become a child soldier.Cuban actors Florian and de la Torre went missing at Miami airport during a stop-over on their way to the Tribeca Film Festival.Jurors praised the pair for “potent individual performances that together are even greater than the sum of their parts.”After picking up his $2,500 (£1,547) prize, Arrechada said: “I wish they were here, but... you could be happy for them, for Javier and for Anailin and for everyone. It’s weird. I miss him.”Molloy, whose film also picked up the best cinematography prize, said she wished the stars could have been there to share the glory.“It would have been a great experience for them,” she said. “I haven’t heard from them. I just hope they are well and they are healthy.”Other awards given out on Thursday night included best screenplay for Argentinian film ‘All In’, a romantic comedy about a professional poker player.The 2012 competition, which ends Sunday, includes 80 feature-length movies and 80 short films from 46 countries. BBC

Leisure

Cuban ‘defector film’ takes Tribeca prizes