Chloe Zhao & Barry Jenkins On Authenticity, World-Building and Working on Billion-Dollar Disney IP

Filmmakers Chloe Zhao and Barry Jenkins met as many indie directors do — hiding in the corner of a film festival party as their heroes and other luminaries schmoozed. It was in 2017 in Telluride, when Jenkins returned to the festival for which he used to work with a Best Picture Oscar for “Moonlight.” There he saw Zhao’s sensational “The Rider.” Years later, both directors are solidified in a new wave of indie crossovers. Zhao’s “Nomadland,” a sweeping look at a generation of van dwellers starring Frances McDormand, is one of this year’s Oscar frontrunners. Jenkins is preparing “The Underground Railroad” limited series at Amazon. The pair met virtually as part of Variety‘s Virtual FYC Fest to discuss world-building, authenticity, and their massive Disney projects “The Eternals” and the “Lion King” movie.