A24 released Moonlight, the film company whose name was inspired by Italy’s A24 motorway.
Founded in 2012 by Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hodges, A24 began as an independent film distributor before expanding into production and other entertainment ventures. The name reportedly came to Katz while he was driving on the Autostrada A24 in Italy, which connects Rome with L’Aquila and Teramo.
Moonlight, written and directed by Barry Jenkins, was released in 2016. Its intimate story follows Chiron through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood as he explores identity, masculinity, sexuality, and belonging in Miami. A24 handled the film’s theatrical distribution in the United States and became closely associated with its awards success.
A common mix-up is treating A24 as the film’s producer alone. The company has both distributed and produced films, but its role varies by title. Moonlight was produced by companies including Plan B Entertainment and distributed by A24. It won the 2017 Academy Award for Best Picture, along with awards for adapted screenplay and Mahershala Ali’s supporting performance.