“I'm obsessed with characters (particularly women) who are unruly, deviant, and desirous—also, weirdos.
I love weirdos.”
Jessie Barr is a writer/director, actor, Sundance fellow, and Half Initiative directing fellow with a background in independent film, comedy, and theater.
Jessie is a 2025 Djerassi Artist in Residence, 2024 Half Initiative directing fellow (Ryan Murphy Program), and 2021 Sundance Episodic Lab fellow. The series she co-created went on to be developed with Warner Brothers Television and Tall Baby Productions. She is also an MOS Film Grant Recipient (2025), PEN America Writer's Grant Recipient (2020), and Oregon Made Film Grant Recipient (2019).
Jessie’s work has screened globally at festivals including Deauville, Berlinale, Tribeca, Mar Del Plata and has been featured by The National Board of Review, The New York Times, Short of the Week, Vimeo Staff Pick, and USA Today. She is currently in post on her latest short, “Sylvia” starring Jena Malone. She is developing several new projects as a writer-director for film and TV including with Academy Award-winning production company, Caviar.
Jessie’s critically acclaimed, award-winning feature debut, "Sophie Jones" premiered in competition at the 2020 Deauville Film Festival and was released by Oscilloscope Laboratories in 2021. The film holds a 100% rating on RottenTomatoes and is streaming on Showtime. Variety hailed the film as a “fully realized portrait of grief that’s universal.” “Superb,” says Roger Ebert. The Playlist called it, “Coming-of-age at its best. A quiet, brilliant film.”
Jessie’s art exhibition, “Serving Cunt: The Cancer Chronicles” debuted in July 2024 at SADE Gallery in Los, Angeles. “Serving Cunt” is an immersive multi-media documentation of her journey through the diagnosis, treatment, and healing of bladder cancer — and is a celebration of bravery and positivity in the face of a very true horror. It features Jessie’s films, “BCG Girl” and “Waiting Room,” interactive installations, photography, and writing.
Jessie is an alum of NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She’s worked with Williamstown Theater Festival, Lincoln Center, Naked Angels, Joe’s Pub (The Public Theater) and NY Stage & Film, among others.
Photos by Emma Mead