‘Una Noche’ Actors Defect to the States

The two Cuban actors who disappeared in Miami en route to the Tribeca Film Festival for the screening of their film “Una Noche” have emerged and confirmed their plans to defect to the United States, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Anailín de la Rúa de la Torre and Javier Nuñez Florian, both 20, appeared on the Miami-based Spanish television station “America TeVe,” assuring viewers that they were in good health and planning to seek political asylum in the States. British director Lucy Mulloy and co-star Dariel Arrechada offered their full support and were happy to hear the two were safe.

"We were just relieved that they were OK," Mulloy told the L.A. Times. "I spoke to them on the phone and told them it was an important decision and I was going to support them in whatever they wanted to do [here]."

The two first-time actors landed in Miami 11 days ago for a layover before their trip to New York when they disappeared. They are currently staying with Miami relatives of de la Torre and have hired a lawyer for their asylum claim.

The real-life couple play twins in the film about three Cuban youths tired of their oppressive government and searching for a way out. The characters plan to stow away on a homemade raft and make their way to Miami.

“Una Noche” scored awards for new narrative director (Mulloy), Best Cinematography (Trevor Forrest and Shlomo Godder), the Best Actor award was shared by Florian and Arrechada.

Arrechada has no plans to follow in his co-stars’ footsteps and flee to the United States but is planning on extending his stay in New York by a few days.