*After “Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins was able to collect himself following the mixup that ultimately led to his film’s win for Best Picture, he faced a hungry media backstage eager to know his thoughts on what had just happened.
“I noticed the commotion that was happening and thought something strange had occurred,” said Jenkins, recalling his reaction as the cast and crew of “La La Land” were giving their best picture acceptance speech. The moment screeched to a halt as presenter Warren Beatty came forward to explain how the wrong film was announced.
“I’m sure everybody saw my face, but I was speechless when the result was altered, because I’ve watched the Academy Awards. I’ve never seen that happen before. So it made a very special feeling even more special, but not in the way I expected.”
Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney, who, as a drama school project, wrote the autobiographical novel “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,” upon which “Moonlight” was based, continue backstage, below:
Earlier in the evening, the first award of the night went to “Moonlight’s” Mahershala Ali for Best Supporting Actor.
Backstage, it was brought to his attention that he is the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar. Ali, whose wife just gave birth to their first child four days prior, spoke about the importance of the moment in light of the country’s current political climate.
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