Jessie Barr

Jessie Barr is a writerdirector based in LA with roots in theater independent film comedy A multihyphenate filmmaker and commercial director born in Washington DC she danced with The Washington Ballet before cutting her teeth as an actor in NYCs OffBroadway scene Jessies filmmaking is humanistic sensual and darkly funny centering on characters in moments of rupture where desire shame and love collide Her production company Enfants Bizarres is committed to the raw energy and revolutionary ethos of punk filmmaking championing humanistic stories that explore the erotic subvert gender norms and center the unruly Jessie recently directed the viral sensation Fight Dirty 2026 a YA action romance streaming on CandyJar app Roku and AppleTV and was profiled in The Hollywood Reporter Her spec commercial for Laneige Lip Mask is a runaway hit with 54 million views Jessie is currently developing a Shakespeare adaptation with Academy Awardwinning prod co Caviar War Pony Sound of Metal Her latest short film Sylvia starring Jena Malone Love Lies Bleeding Neon Demon The Hunger Games will World Premiere at the Palm Springs International ShortFest 2026 The film was made possible with support from Modern Silent Shorts and Isabella Rossellini 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 cocreated went on to be developed with Warner Bros Television and Tall Baby Productions Jessies work has screened globally at festivals including Deauville Berlinale Tribeca Mar Del Plata and been featured by The National Board of Review The New York Times Short of the Week Vimeo Staff Pick and USA Today Jessies critically acclaimed awardwinning feature debut Sophie Jones premiered in competition at the Deauville Film Festival and was released by Oscilloscope Laboratories earning a 100 on Rotten Tomatoes and streaming on Showtime The film is executive produced by Nicole Holofcener Roger Ebert hailed it as Superb Variety called it A fully realized portrait of grief thats universal and The Playlist praised it as Comingofage at its best A quiet brilliant film As a performance artist Jessie appeared with Pussy Riots Nadya Tolokonnikova in PUSSY RIOT SIBERIA 2025 at MOCA Jessies personal cancer chronicle Serving Cunt debuted at SADE Gallery in Los Angeles 2024 featuring original films installations and photography as a way to process her bladder cancer diagnosis treatment and healing Selected Clients Garnier Savannah Rose Studio Grant recognitions include MOS Silent Film Grant Recipient 2025 PEN America Writers Grant Recipient 2020 and Oregon Film Grant Recipient 2019