Jessie Barr is a writer/director, actor, Sundance fellow, and Half Initiative directing fellow with a background in independent film and theater. Her approach to storytelling is intimate and deeply humanistic.
She is obsessed with characters (particularly women) who are unruly, deviant, and desirous. Also, weirdos. She loves weirdos.
Jessie is a 2024 Half Initiative directing fellow (Ryan Murphy Program) and a 2021 Sundance Episodic Lab fellow. The series she co-created went on to be developed with Warner Brothers Television and Tall Baby Productions.
Jessie’s work has screened globally at festivals including Berlinale, Tribeca, and Mar Del Plata. She is a PEN America Writer's Grant Recipient, and Oregon Made Film Grant Recipient. Her music video debut, “NVR RLLY” by King Isis (2024), garnered over 40k views in 7 days.
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 is developing several new projects as a writer-director for film and TV including with Academy Award-winning production company, Caviar.
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 two films, interactive installations, and photography.
Photos by Emma Mead