The pressure is piling on Mariah Carey to confirm her romance with actor Nick Cannon, after they played a cat-and-mouse game at the Tribeca Film Festival to avoid being spotted together.

Both stars had movies premiering at the event on Saturday night; Cannon’s basketball film Ball Don’t Lie and Carey’s Tennessee.

They duly took to the red carpet to promote their own pictures in different parts of town - but Cannon dashed past photographers and reporters at his big night, avoiding questions about his relationship with the superstar.

He then skipped his own afterparty, so he could join Carey at the Tenjune bash to celebrate Tennessee. The pair then embarked on a clever game of hide and seek and managed to avoid the prying eyes of the press and paparazzi, shying away in a V.I.P. section.

The pair are rumored to have got together after Cannon appeared in a video for Carey’s new album E=MC2. They have since been spotted together partying in Las Vegas and are reported to be traveling to the Cannes Film Festival next month.

But friends claim Carey is unlikely to speak out about the romance, because she loves keeping relationships under wraps.

A pal recently said, "Mariah is the master when it comes to keeping her relationships secret. Even though she’s a big star, she likes to keep her private life to herself."

Carey’s exes include record boss Tommy Mottola, rapper Eminem and singer Luis Miguel. Cannon was last known to be dating actress Zulay Henao, after breaking off his engagement to model Selita Ebanks.