Barry Jenkins, born in Miami in 1979, is an American director and screenwriter. He made his feature directorial debut with *Medicine for Melancholy* (2008), earning critical acclaim. His international breakthrough came with his second film, *Moonlight* (2016). The film, based on the play by Tarell Alvin McCraney, won the Academy Award for Best Picture and earned Jenkins the award for Best Adapted Screenplay. In 2018, he directed *If Beale Street Could Talk*, an adaptation of James Baldwin's novel of the same name. The film received widespread acclaim, with Regina King winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. He subsequently turned to television with the miniseries *The Underground Railroad* (2021), based on the novel by Colson Whitehead, which won a Golden Globe Award. His filmmaking is characterized by a lyrical visual style and a profound exploration of African-American identity, intimacy, and human connection.