Following its world premiere at Telluride, and screenings at Toronto International Film Festival in the last month, Barry Jenkins’ eagerly-anticipated “Medicine for Melancholy” follow-up, “Moonlight” – a film that’s on my 2017 list of Oscar potentials – recently screened at the New York Film Festival, and has most certainly, decisively, earned its way into awards season contention. Reviews of the film, which will be released by A24 next week (October 21), have been absolutely stellar, scoring a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes thus far. Rick Mele, who reviewed it for S&A after its TIFF premiere last month, called it a gem that’s definitely worthy of all the hype its received (read Rick’s review here).

“Moonlight” is based on award-winning African American playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney’s play “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue” – a drama about black queer youth, following Miami kids as they navigate the temptations of the drug trade and their burgeoning sexuality.

Following its screening in the Main Slate of the 54th New York Film Festival about a week ago, Jenkins sat for a discussion around the making of “Moonlight.” He talks about the film’s origins, the development of the story, casting the film, the music in it, and much more. The informative, insightful 30-minute conversation is embedded below.