Having completed a ridiculously adorable interview with Alex R. Hibbert, we then had the pleasure to speak to his co-star Mahershala Ali, who plays the youngster’s guiding light in this Barry Jenkins production.

MoonlightWe discusses with Ali how special a project Moonlight is, and why he got a sense for that buzz before even reading the screenplay. He goes on to talk about how imperative it is that stereotypes are subverted in cinema, to present a more accurate reflection of real life, as he discusses the power of cinema, and having voices heard.

Related: Moonlight Movie Review

What with his Oscar nomination and starring roles in the likes of Free State of Jones, Hidden Figures and TV series Luke Cage, Ali also spoke about what a remarkable period in his career this has been.

Moonlight is released on February 17th. Be sure to check back on HeyUGuys throughout the week for more interviews with the cast & crew.