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Barry Jenkins Biography

Birth Name:Barry Jenkins

Birth Place:Miami, Florida, United States

Profession Producer, Director, Writer, Editor

Fast Facts

  • Received the 2017 Tallahassee Film Festival Distinguished Achievement Award
  • Was named one of TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people in 2017
  • Graduated from Florida State University in 2003
  • Before becoming a director, he worked as a carpenter
  • Best known for directing the Oscar-winning film "Moonlight․"
  • Co-founded the advertising studio Strike Anywhere, which specialized in producing commercials
  • Raised $13,000 to produce his first film "Medicine for Melancholy․"
  • Once worked as an intern for Oprah Winfrey

Awards

  • 2008Gold Hugo-New Directors Competition: nominated
  • 2008Gotham Independent Film Award-Breakthrough Director: nominated
  • 2008Filmmaker Award-Best Narrative Feature: nominated
  • 2008Best Film-International Competition: nominated
  • 2009Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: nominated
  • 2009Someone to Watch Award-: nominated
  • 2009ICP Award-Best First Feature: nominated
  • 2009Marlon Riggs Award-: winner
  • 2016AAFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016Audience Award-People's Choice Award: winner
  • 2016Breakthrough Artist Award-: nominated
  • 2016AFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2016AFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016ACCA-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016ACCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016Best Film-Official Competition: nominated
  • 2016BFCC Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2016BFCC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016CFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016CFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016Audience Choice Award-Best Narrative Feature: winner
  • 2016Critics Choice Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016Critics Choice Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016DFWFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016DFWFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016DFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016DFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016DFCS Award-Breakthrough Artist: nominated
  • 2016FFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016FFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016Pauline Kael Breakout Award-: winner
  • 2016Golden Schmoes-Best Director of the Year: nominated
  • 2016Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2016Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Feature: winner
  • 2016Audience Award-: winner
  • 2016Behind the Camera Award-Breakthrough Director: winner
  • 2016Halekulani Golden Orchid Award-Narrative Feature: winner
  • 2016IGN Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016IFJA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2016ICP Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016ICP Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016Sierra Award-Breakout Filmmaker of the Year: winner
  • 2016Sierra Award-Best Screenplay, Original: nominated
  • 2016Sierra Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016LAFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016Best Film-International Competition: nominated
  • 2016Audience Award-U.S. Cinema: winner
  • 2016NBR Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016NMFC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016NMFC Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016NYFCC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016NYFCO Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2016NYFCO Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016NTFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016Audience Award - Honorable Mention-Centerpieces: winner
  • 2016PCC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016PCC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016PFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016PFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016SDFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016SDFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016SFFCC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016SFFCC Award-Best Screenplay, Original: winner
  • 2016SEFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2016SEFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016SLFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016SLFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016TFCA Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted or Original: nominated
  • 2016TFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016Platform Prize-: nominated
  • 2016UFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2016UFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016VFCC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016VVFP Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2016VVFP Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016WAFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2016WAFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017Oscar-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2017Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
  • 2017EDA Award-Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2017EDA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2017Amanda-Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske spillefilm): nominated
  • 2017BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay (Original): nominated
  • 2017Audience Choice-Best Feature Film: winner
  • 2017Black Reel-Outstanding Screenplay, Motion Picture: winner
  • 2017Black Reel-Outstanding Director, Motion Picture: winner
  • 2017COFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2017COFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017COFCA Award-Breakthrough Film Artist: winner
  • 2017CIFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017CIFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2017Chlotrudis Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2017DFCS Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2017DFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2017DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: nominated
  • 2017Dorian Award-Screenplay of the Year: winner
  • 2017Dorian Award-Director of the Year: winner
  • 2017DFCC-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017Independent Spirit Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2017Robert Altman Award-: winner
  • 2017Independent Spirit Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2017GAFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2017Breakthrough Award-: nominated
  • 2017GAFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017Gold Derby Film Award-Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2017Gold Derby Film Award-Director: nominated
  • 2017Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2017Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2017HFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017HFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017HFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017HFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017Image Award-Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film): winner
  • 2017Image Award-Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Film): winner
  • 2017ICS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017ICS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017MovieZone Award-: nominated
  • 2017Audience Award-: winner
  • 2017INOCA TV-Best Directing for a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2017INOCA-Best Director: winner
  • 2017INOCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2017IFC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017ALFS Award-Director of the Year: nominated
  • 2017ALFS Award-Screenwriter of the Year: nominated
  • 2017NSFC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017NSFC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2017NCFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017NCFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017OFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017OFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017OFTA Film Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: winner
  • 2017OFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017OFCS Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2017Directors to Watch-: winner
  • 2017FIPRESCI Film of the Year-: nominated
  • 2017Outstanding Director of the Year Award-: winner
  • 2017Satellite Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2017Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Original: winner
  • 2017SFCS Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2017SFCS Award-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2017The Best Film-The 50 best films of 2017 in the UK: nominated
  • 2017USC Scripter Award-Film: winner
  • 2017WGA Award (Screen)-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 2018ASECAN Award-Best Foreign Film: nominated
  • 2018BFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2018Bodil-Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film): nominated
  • 2018CFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2018CinEuphoria-Best Film - International Competition: winner
  • 2018CinEuphoria-Best Director - International Competition: nominated
  • 2018CinEuphoria-Best Screenplay - International Competition: nominated
  • 2018CinEuphoria-Top Ten of the Year - Audience Award: winner
  • 2018CinEuphoria-Top Ten of the Year - International Competition: winner
  • 2018Robert-Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film): nominated
  • 2018FFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2018Audience Award-: nominated
  • 2018Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2018GWNYFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2018GWNYFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2018Guldbagge-Best Foreign Film (Bästa utländska film): nominated
  • 2018Truly Moving Picture Award-: winner
  • 2018IGN Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2018Image Award-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2018LAOFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2018Audience Award-Best Film: winner
  • 2018Best Film-International Competition: nominated
  • 2018NBR Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2018OFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2018OAFFC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2018PFCC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2018Audience Award-Best Foreign Director (Melhor Diretor Estrangeiro): winner
  • 2018Critics Award-Best Foreign Director (Melhor Diretor Estrangeiro): winner
  • 2018SFFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2018SFFCC Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
  • 2018SFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2018SFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2018SLFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2018Grolsch People's Choice Award-: nominated
  • 2018Festival Award-Best Feature Film: nominated
  • 2018VHS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2018WAFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2018WAFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019Oscar-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019EDA Award-Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019AFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2019AFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2019ACCA-Best Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2019ACCA-Best Director: nominated
  • 2019ACCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2019BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay (Adapted): nominated
  • 2019Black Reel-Outstanding Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019Black Reel-Outstanding Director: nominated
  • 2019CIFCC Award-Best Independent Film: winner
  • 2019CIFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019COFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019Critics Choice Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2019DFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019Dorian Award-Director of the Year: nominated
  • 2019Dorian Award-Screenplay of the Year: nominated
  • 2019Independent Spirit Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2019Independent Spirit Award-Best Feature: winner
  • 2019GAFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2019GAFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019Gold Derby Film Award-Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2019Gold Derby Film Award-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2019HFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2019HFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019Image Award-Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film): nominated
  • 2019Image Award-Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Film): nominated
  • 2019ICS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019INOCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019INOCA-Best Director: nominated
  • 2019LEJA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2019LEJA Award-Best Picture: nominated
  • 2019LEJA Award-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
  • 2019ALFS Award-Screenwriter of the Year: nominated
  • 2019NCFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2019NCFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2019Odyssey Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2019Odyssey Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2019OFTA Film Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2019OFTA Film Award-Best Picture: nominated
  • 2019OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: winner
  • 2019OFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2019OFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2019Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
  • 2019Satellite Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2019USC Scripter Award-Film: nominated
  • 2019WGA Award (Screen)-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020Gold Derby Film Award-Adapted Screenplay of the Decade: nominated
  • 2020Gold Derby Film Award-Director of the Decade: nominated
  • 2021AAFCA Award-Best Director: winner
  • 2021Black Reel-Outstanding Writing, TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
  • 2021Black Reel-Outstanding Directing, TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
  • 2021Black Reel-Outstanding TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
  • 2021Golden Frog-TV Series Competition: nominated
  • 2021Gotham Independent Film Award-Breakthrough Series - Longform: nominated
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: nominated
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: nominated
  • 2022BAFTA TV Award-International: winner
  • 2022British Independent Film Award-Best British Independent Film: winner
  • 2022DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series: winner
  • 2022Independent Spirit Award-Best New Scripted Series: nominated
  • 2022Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2022Image Award-Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2022PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Limited or Anthology Series Television: nominated
  • 2022USC Scripter Award-Television: nominated
  • 2022WGA Award (TV)-Adapted Long Form: nominated
  • 2023BAFTA Scotland Award-Best Feature Film: nominated
  • 2023Windie-Best Independent Film: nominated
  • 2023Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: winner
  • 2023Gold Derby Film Award-Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2023LEJA Award-Best Picture: nominated
  • 2023NDFS Award-Best Picture: winner
  • 2024CinEuphoria-Best Film - International Competition: nominated
  • 2024Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: nominated
  • 2024Gaudí Award-Best European Film (Millor Pel·lícula Europea): nominated
  • 2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: nominated
  • 2025Black Reel-Outstanding Screenplay: nominated
  • 2025British Independent Film Award-Best International Independent Film, Sponsored by Champagne Taittinger: nominated
  • 2025Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2025Image Award-Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2026Windie-Best Independent Film: nominated
  • 2026Independent Spirit Award-Best Feature: nominated