Biography

Jessie Barr is a writer/director, actor, and multimedia artist with roots in independent film, theater, and comedy. Her work is intimate and emotionally raw, blending naturalistic performances with poetic visuals to explore desire, grief, and identity in characters who defy social norms.

She is currently developing a Shakespeare adaptation with Academy award-winning prod co. Caviar (War Pony, Sound of Metal) and is in post on her latest short film Sylvia, starring Jena Malone. 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. 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.” 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 recently performed with Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova in PUSSY RIOT SIBERIA (2025) at MOCA. Jessie’s darkly funny, deeply personal cancer chronicle, Serving Cunt debuted at SADE Gallery in Los, Angeles (2024) combining original films, installations, and photography.

Jessie is an alum of NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She’s worked with Lincoln Center, Williamstown Theater Festival, Naked Angels, Joe’s Pub (The Public Theater), and NY Stage & Film, among others. Grant recognitions include: MOS Film Grant Recipient (2025), PEN America Writer's Grant Recipient (2020), and Oregon Made Film Grant Recipient (2019).