Moonlight is a 2016 American coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Barry Jenkins, based on Tarell Alvin McCraney's unpublished semi-autobiographical play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue. It stars Trevante Rhodes, Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Ashton Sanders, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe, and André Holland.
Trevante Rhodes
André Holland
Naomie Harris
Janelle Monáe
Barry Jenkins is an American filmmaker. After making his filmmaking debut with the short film My Josephine (2003), he directed his first feature film Medicine for Melancholy (2008) for which he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Feature. He is also a member of The Chopstars collective as a creative collaborator.
Barry Jenkins
Jenkins at a Q&A for Medicine for Melancholy at the Northwest Film Forum in 2009
Donald Trump's election inspired Jenkins to go forward with The Underground Railroad, after Moonlight's success opened up new avenues.