David Barker (filmmaker)
David Barker | |
|---|---|
| Born | U.S. |
| Occupations | Editor, screenwriter and director |
| Years active | 1999–present |
David Barker is an American film editor, screenwriter, and director.[1][2] He is known for editing the films Chasing Summer (2026), Birds of Paradise (2021), The Edge of Democracy (2019) and White Sun (2016), as well as for directing the film Daylight (2010).[3][4]
Career
Barker studied philosophy and anthropology before pursuing a career in film.[5] He has taught as a visiting professor at Brown University, Bard College, and the University of Texas at Austin.[6][7]
Barker made his feature directorial debut with Afraid of Everything (1999); the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.[8] He later directed the short film Seven Days (2004) and the feature Daylight (2010).[9]
From 2001 to 2003, Barker served as artistic director of the Cinematexas International Short Film Festival, founded by Athina Rachel Tsangari.[10]
Barker is a member of the American Cinema Editors (ACE).[11] He has worked primarily as an editor on documentary and narrative films. His editing and writing credits include White Sun (2016), The Edge of Democracy (2019), Shirley (2020), Birds of Paradise(2021), and Apocalypse in the Tropics (2024), as well as episodes of the miniseries Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence (2023).[12][13][14]
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Contribution | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Afraid of Everything | Director, writer and producer | |
| 2010 | Daylight | Director, writer and producer | |
| 2011 | Here | Editor | |
| 2012 | Highway | Editor | |
| 2014 | Thou Wast Mild and Lovely | Editor and co-writer | |
| 2015 | Funny Bunny | Editor | |
| 2016 | Approaching the Unknown | Editor | |
| 2016 | White Sun | Editor and writer | |
| 2017 | The Reagan Show | Editor | Documentary |
| 2019 | The Edge of Democracy | Editor and co-writer | Documentary |
| 2020 | Shirley | Editor | |
| 2021 | Birds of Paradise | Editor | |
| 2023 | Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence | Editor | TV miniseries (3 episodes) |
| 2024 | Apocalypse in the Tropics | Editor and co-writer | Documentary |
| 2024 | Pooja, Sir | Writer | |
| 2024 | A Want in Her | Writer | |
| 2026 | Chasing Summer | Editor |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Result | Award | Category | Work | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Won | Brooklyn Film Festival | Best Editing | Funny Bunny | [15] |
| 2018 | Nominated | Cinema Eye Honors | Outstanding Achievement in Editing | The Reagan Show | [16] |
| 2019 | Nominated | Critics' Choice Documentary Awards | Best Narration | The Edge of Democracy | [17] |
| Nominated | International Documentary Association | Best Writing | [18] | ||
| 2025 | Nominated | Best Narration | Apocalypse in the Tropics | [19] | |
| Won | Critics' Choice Documentary Awards | Best Writing | [20] |
References
- ^ "Transforming Information into Experience: White Sun Screenwriter and Editor David Barker". filmmakermagazine.com. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "A Good Crisis: "Daylight" Director David Barker". indiewire.com. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "Inside the Edit: How David Barker Edited 'Chasing Summer'". redsharknews.com. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "WHITE SUN = SETO SURYA - Written and directed by Deepak Rauniyar; editor, David Barker". pacificaffairs.ubc.ca. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "Creator/Writer, Wiring Utopia". sloanfilmsummit.org. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "Biological clock plays critical role in driving teens' late-day eating habits". brown.edu. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "'The Reagan Show' Editors Reveal America's First Reality TV President". nofilmschool.com. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "'AFRAID' HOLLYWOOD CAN'T TOP THIS". nypost.com. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "A Kidnap Thriller Cuts It Close". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "Cinematexas Fest Showcasing Shorts in the Lone Star State". indiewire.com. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "ACE Annual Meeting 2023" (PDF). americancinemaeditors.org. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "Sundance: Shirley editor David Barker". postmagazine.com. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "Netflix To Release Petra Costa's Oscar-Contending Documentary 'Apocalypse In The Tropics'". filmmakermagazine.com. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "Can't Look Away: How True Crime Series are Edited". filmmakermagazine.com. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "'Sweaty Betty,' 'Funny Bunny' Win Big at 18th Brooklyn Film Festival". indiewire.com. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "2018 Cinema Eye Honors Nominations". indiewire.com. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "4th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards – List of Nominees and Winners". criticschoice.com. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "35 IDA documentary awarda". documentary.org. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "Nominations Unveiled For The Tenth Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards". criticschoice.com. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "IDA Documentary Awards: 'The Tale of Silyan' Wins Best Feature". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 2026-02-07.