Luis Alberto García, Best Lead Actor for "The Cry of the Butterflies" at the Produ Awards 2023

November 2, 2023

"I dedicate it to all Cubans everywhere in the world, to my four daughters, to my girlfriend, and to the Assembly of Cuban Filmmakers who are fighting for our cinema to be free from censorship and exclusions, and I believe we are doing something beautiful," said García when accepting the award.

Luis Alberto García was awarded Best Lead Actor in the Historical Political and Social Series or Miniseries category at the Produ Awards 2023, for his role as Dominican dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, in the series The Cry of the Butterflies.

The award was presented this Wednesday during the seventh Gala of the awards held via streaming from the Moon Palace Hotel in Cancún, Mexico. The Cuban actor received news of his recognition in a broadcast where the other contenders for the same award were also present.

"I dedicate it to all Cubans everywhere in the world, to my four daughters, to my girlfriend, and to the Assembly of Cuban Filmmakers who are fighting for our cinema to be free from censorship and exclusions, and I believe we are doing something beautiful. And thank you very much to everyone who voted for me!" were García's words of gratitude, reported by the Cubaactores Instagram profile.

Alongside the Cuban artist competing were Mexican actors Benny Emmanuel, Juan Daniel García Treviño and Alex Lago for the HBO Max series Vgly; Argentine Jorge Marrale for María Marta: El crimen del country, also on HBO; and Tomás Wicz, from Argentina, for Días de gallos 2, from the same television producer.

Cubaactores highlighted that "his portrayal of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo in The Cry of the Butterflies is truly remarkable, as he manages to capture the complexity of the character in a masterful way."

According to the publication, "from his residence in Havana, the Cuban actor expressed his deep gratitude and shared the intense preparation required to embody such an infamous character."

Furthermore, it added that García "thanked Fernando Barbosa, Juan Pablo Buscarini, Pampa Films, Gloriamundi Producciones and made a special dedication of the award."

Over 100 categories were competed for in this edition of the Produ Awards, which "recognize the best of Ibero-American content, and those who are behind and in front of cameras to make them possible," according to the official event website.

The Cry of the Butterflies, from Disney+'s Star hub, premiered on March 8 of this year as a Hispano-American television series of historical drama.

The fiction is set in the Dominican Republic in the 1950s and was created by Juan Pablo Buscarini. It tells the story of Dominican lawyer Minerva Mirabal and her sisters Patria and María Teresa during the dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo. Their murder is commemorated every year on November 25, which has become "International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women."

Another Cuban present in the series is actor Héctor Noas. From his Instagram profile, he also reflected his joy at his compatriot's award.

"Very happy with the news that he has won fair and square, the PRODU Award for Best Lead Actor for his excellent work in the series 'The Cry of the Butterflies'. Celebrate it big! It's well deserved. All Cuban actors should feel proud of you at this moment," wrote Noas.

The Produ Awards were presented for the first time on October 6, 2017. Since that date, annually, the best television productions throughout Latin America have been awarded at a "different, virtual, innovative and cutting-edge event that represents the future of online consumption," according to its website.