Yul Vázquez, Cheryl Umaña & José Zúñiga Join ‘1972’

EXCLUSIVE: Yul Vazquez (Severance, Will Trent), Cheryl Umaña (The Pitt, All American), José Zúñiga (Twilight, Griselda) and newcomer Bryanna Marie Felipe will lead the cast of the Cuban American film 1972. The announcement of their participation arrives as 1972 wraps production after shooting in Los Angeles.

The film from Nil Novi, Ten to the Six Pictures, and Three Friends/One Spirit is eyeing a festival run for early 2027.

1972 tells a story of family, hope, resilience, and the complexities of identity and belonging. At her New Year’s Eve party in 1972, Cuban exile Gloria Cienfuegos (Umaña) faces the onslaught of a defiant daughter (Felipe), a charismatic and provocative novelist friend (Vazquez), a rogue hamster, and her worst fears of losing hope and never returning to her homeland.

In addition to the above four actors, the cast also includes Sienna Oquendo as Lucia Cienfuegos, Krizia Bajos as Natalia Robles, Orlando Pinedala as Fernando, Kelvin Han Yee as Ismael, Aixa Clemente as Ofelia, Yareli Arizmendi as Anais, Adam Peltier as Frank, Paige McGhee as Darla, Damian Darnell Lewis as Ronald, Gia Ochsenbein as Lisa, and Gary Guerrier as Ed.

The film is inspired by Marissa Chibás’ upbringing as the daughter of a commander in the Cuban Revolution and as a Miss Cuba runner-up. Chibás, who wrote and directed the film, is a Sundance Screenwriting Fellow for her screenplay 1972, which was selected for the 2024 Gotham Week’s Project Market, the Wscripted Cannes Screenplay List, was an Athena Awards finalist, and received an inaugural Sundance/Gold House Artist Accelerator grant. 

“1972 celebrates the communities that shaped me: young women finding their voices with Carole King on the turntable, the daughters and sons of the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements, and a generation that watched humanity land on the moon and believed anything was possible,” shared Chibás.

Adding, “Their optimism, contradictions, resilience, and dreams are woven into every frame of this film. Together, our extraordinary cast and creative team of 1972 recreated a world that feels remarkably familiar today—a time of political division, war, galvanized youth, and people searching for a different future. Although rooted in one Cuban family’s experience, I hope audiences everywhere recognize something of themselves in the universal search for home.”

1972 is produced by Liz Cardenas and Rui M. Xu. In addition to acting, Vazquez serves as executive producer. The creative team also includes Director of Photography Diana Matos, Editor Jonathan Cuartas, Composer Marcelo Zarvos, Production Designer Sandra B. Rodriguez, and Costume Designer Victor A. Sandoval. The film features songs by Bobi Cespedes, PALO!, The S.O.U.L., Jomama Jones, Blue Eye Extinction, Constance Hauman, and Johnny Knollwood and the Church of Mad Love.

Vazquez is represented by Gersh Agency and Untitled Entertainment. Umaña is represented by Metropolitan Talent Agency. Zúñiga is represented by SDB Partners and Prime Talent Media. Felipe is represented by Arise Artists Agency and Brave Artists Management.