INTERVIEW: Barry Jenkins on being an active ally, who he’s influenced by and the ensemble of MOONLIGHT
I recently sat down for a conversation with writer/director Barry Jenkins to talk about his extraordinary new film Moonlight. The film tells the story of a largely underrepresented section of society – queer African-American males. In this interview, we discuss the film, what it means to be an active ally, his cinematic influences, and his incredible ensemble cast.
READ: Review: ‘Moonlight’ (★★★★)
Moonlight played the Telluride, Toronto, New York, BFI London and Mill Valley Film Festivals this fall, earning an Audience Award from MVFF this week. It currently sits at 99 on Metacritic and 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film stars Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Andre Holland, Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders and Alex Hibbert and was based on a story by Tarell McCraney.
A24 will open Moonlight in New York and Los Angeles this Friday, October 21st, and then expands in the coming weeks. Check out where the Gold Rush Gang thinks Moonlight is in the Oscar race right here.
The interview:
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He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Critics Choice Association (CCA), San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.
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- Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC) Awards: ‘Sinners’ Tops for Best Film, Director - December 14, 2025
St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Awards: ‘One Battle After Another’ Dominates 
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Awards: ‘One Battle After Another,’ ‘Sinners’ Share Most Wins 
Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC) Awards: ‘Sinners’ Tops for Best Film, Director 
Producers Guild Awards Nominations for Sports, Children’s and Short-Form Programs