Pitt Hosts Screenings Of If Beale Street Could Talk

(l-r) Stephan James, Brad Pitt, Barry Jenkins, and Kiki Layne

Brad Pitt hosted two special screenings of If Beale Street Could Talk over the weekend. The events took place at a private residence in the Hollywood Hills. Both screenings were hosted by Brad Pitt with a reception between screenings.

Attendees from the film included Writer and Director Barry Jenkins, Cast members KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Brian Tyree Henry, Colman Domingo, Finn Wittrock, Michael Beach, Producers Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Cinematographer James Laxton, Composer Nicholas Britell, Editor Joi McMillon, costume designer Caroline Eselin, Hair department head Kenneth Walker.

Notable guests included Timothée Chalamet, Catherine Hardwicke, John Ridley, Maria Conchita Alonso, Diane Warren, Shamier Anderson, Beth Grant, Sarunas J. Jackson.

About If Beale Street Could Talk

Academy Award-winning writer/director Barry Jenkins’ first film since the Best Picture Oscar-winning Moonlight is If Beale Street Could Talk, his adaptation of James Baldwin’s novel — the first English-language feature film based on the work of the author, to whom the movie is dedicated.

Set in early-1970s Harlem, If Beale Street Could Talk is a timeless and moving love story of both a couple’s unbreakable bond and the African-American family’s empowering embrace, as told through the eyes of 19-year-old Tish Rivers (screen newcomer KiKi Layne). A daughter and wife-to-be, Tish vividly recalls the passion, respect and trust that have connected her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by the nickname Fonny (Stephan James). Friends since childhood, the devoted couple dream of a future together but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit.

Through the unique intimacy and power of cinema, If Beale Street Could Talk honors the author’s prescient words and imagery, charting the emotional currents navigated in an unforgiving and racially biased world as the filmmaker poetically crosses time frames to show how love and humanity endure.

Director: Barry Jenkins

Writer: Barry Jenkins

Producers: Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski, Sara Murphy, 

Jeremy Kleiner, Dede Gardner

Cast: KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King, Colman Domingo, Teyonah Parris, Brian Tyree Henry, Michael Beach, Ed Skrein, Diego Luna, Dave Franco, Pedro Pascal

Now playing in theaters.