janelle monaé makes film debut alongside mahershala ali, naomie harris, andré holland, and trevante rhodes in barry jenkins’ coming-of-age drama “moonlight”

Starring alongside powerhouse actors Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, André Holland, and Edson Jean, soulstress and AFROPUNK Fest alum Janelle Monaé is making her live action film debut in Writer/director/producer Barry Jenkins’ adaptation of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s play “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue”. The festival-bound film takes place in 1980s Miami during the heigh of the War on Drugs and follows a young black kid named Chiron (played by Trevante Rhodes and Ashton Sanders) as he comes of age and realizes his sexuality—all while learning to reconcile this with his own masculinity and the complex dynamics around him. Watch the powerful trailer for “Moonlight”, below.

*Erin White is an Atlanta-based writer and AFROPUNK’s editorial and social media assistant. You can follow her on Tumblr or friend her on Facebook. Have a pitch or an inquiry? Shoot her an email at erin@afropunk.com.