Interview: Barry Jenkins and KiKi Layne on ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ at the Mill Valley Film Festival

I caught up with Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) and his If Beale Street Could Talk star KiKi Layne at the closing night of the 41st Mill Valley Film Festival on October 14, 2018.
Jenkins discusses why he chose Beale Street to adapt of all of James Baldwin’s works, how newcomer Kiki Layne became the film’s Tish and his recommendations for new filmmakers.
Review: ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ (★★★★)
Layne talks about how she got the part of Tish, acting in her first feature film with such an esteemed director and cast, what she took away from her character and working with Regina King and Barry Jenkins (who makes a special guest appearance at the end).
If Beale Street Could Talk will be released in NY and LA from Annapurna Pictures on November 30th with an expansion in December.
Check out the red carpet interviews below.
- Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ): ‘One Battle After Another,’ ‘Hamnet’ Lead - December 22, 2025
- North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) Nominations - December 22, 2025
- Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) Awards: ‘One Battle After Another’ Named Best Film - December 21, 2025

Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ): ‘One Battle After Another,’ ‘Hamnet’ Lead
North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) Nominations
Interview: ‘Marty Supreme’ Casting Director Jennifer Venditti on Finding 1950s Faces and the Magic of Collaborating with Josh Safdie