Moonlight director Barry Jenkins has read the Oscars acceptance speech he had prepared before last year's Best Picture gaffe, paying tribute to the story's playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney and highlighting the importance of self-acceptance.
Speaking at the SXSW film festival in Texas, where Jenkins first got his creative break as an up-and-coming filmmaker a decade ago, Jenkins reflects on the films central character, saying: “Tarell and I are Chiron. We are that boy. And when you watch Moonlight, you don’t assume a boy who grew up how and where we did would grow up and make a piece of art that wins an Academy Award — certainly don’t think he would grow up to win Best Picture."
Jenkins continued: “I’ve said that a lot and what I’ve had to admit is that I placed those limitations on myself. I denied myself that dream — not you, not anyone else — me. And so, to anyone watching this who sees themselves in us, let this be a symbol, a reflection that leads you to love yourself.
“Because doing so may be the difference between dreaming at all and somehow, through the Academy’s grace, realising dreams you never allowed yourself to have.”
Moonlight, which followed the story of a gay African-American man, was the winner of Best Picture at the 2017 Academy Awards, but the moment was marred by controversy after a mix-up that saw La La Land mistakenly named the winner.
You can watch the speech below:
