Moonlight Archives - Golden Globes

Moonlight

A timeless story of human connection and self-discovery, Moonlight chronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami.

Golden Globe Awards

2017: “Moonlight” Shines as First LGBTQ+ Film with All-Black Cast

In 2017, as in many years before, the Golden Globes were once again the showcase of an important social and cultural milestone, the top award for the first LGBTQ+ film with an all-Black cast. Directed by Barry Jenkins, Moonlight is a coming-of-age drama based on Tarell Alvin McCraney’s semi-autobiographical play “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue.

Golden Globe Awards

2017 – Drama: Moonlight

Golden Globe and Oscar winner Moonlight is a chronicle of the childhood, adolescence, and adulthood of a young, African-American gay man – Chiron – growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami. Written and directed by Barry Jenkins, the film was shot with only $1.

Industry

Joi McMillon, Nomination Pioneer, Star of the Editing Bay

Being an editor is a “happy coincidence,” according to Joi McMillon, the first African-American woman nominated for an Oscar for Best Film Editing, along with co-editor, Nat Sanders, for their work on Moonlight, directed by Barry Jenkins. “I wanted to be a journalist but all the slots were taken, so as part of the Junior Achievement Program, I went with my next choice, which was film.

Golden Globe Awards

Mahershala Ali, Moonlight -Nominee, Best Performance By An Actor in a Supporting Role In Any Motion Picture

When Juan, a feared drug dealer ruling over a mean corner in a tough Miami neighborhood, comes across a scared, trembling kid in the opening scenes from director Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight, the audience does not expect the layers of care and tenderness that frame the encounter. The surprise is a credit to Mahershala Ali’s nuanced performance of a character based on the life experiences of playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, whose stage play inspired the movie.

Interviews

Barry Jenkins on “Moonlight”

Barry Jenkins was born and raised in Miami, studied filmmaking at Florida State University, then worked at Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions in Los Angeles. A passionate filmmaker, he directed several shorts and the San Francisco-set indie feature Medicine for Melancholy (2008), which was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards.