News
Santa Barbara International Film Festival interviews finalist Jeff Barker.
Jeff Barker named FADE IN Grand Prize Winner for his psychological horror screenplay, Gravewater.
The Black List names Jeff Barker a Recommended Writer for receiving multiple 8s for his psychological horror screenplay, Choked Out.
Jeff Barker named Official Winner of the Night Frights LA Film Festival for his psychological horror screenplay, Gravewater.
Jeff Barker signs with Michael Garnett at Leverage Management.
Focus Features Closing First Big TIFF Deal: Curry Barker Horror Film ‘Obsession’ Selling For $15M+
Curry Barker to direct, star in ‘Anything But Ghosts’ for Jason Blum, Roy Lee.
Commercial Horror/Thriller
PITCH DECK
Elevated Psychological Horror
Commercial Psychological Horror Fantasy
Commercial Psychological Horror
*GRAND PRIZE WINNER 2025 Fade In Horror Awards
*WINNER 2025 Fright Nights LA Film Festival
*8s on The Black List
*Top 15% 2024 Austin Film Festival
*Finalist 2024 Stage 32 New Blood Screenwriting Competition
*Finalist 2025 FILMMATIC Horror Screenplay Awards
*Finalist 2024 New York Horror Night Film Festival
*Finalist 2024 Southwest Thriller/Horror Film Festival
*Semifinalist 2025 PAGE International Screenwriting Awards
*Semifinalist 2025 Emerging Screenwriter Competition
*Semifinalist 2025 Santa Barbara Int. Screenplay Awards
*Quarterfinalist 2025 Inroads Fellowship
*Quarterfinalist 2025 Final Draft Big Break Contest
*Quarterfinalist 2024 Emerging Screenwriters Competition
*Quarterfinalist 2024 Vail Film Festival
*Quarterfinalist 2024 Los Angeles International Awards
*Quarterfinalist 2024 Big Apple Film Festival
*Quarterfinalist 2024 Outstanding Screenplay
*2025 The Red List (#3) / Top 1% on Coverfly
*8s on The Black List
*Black List Recommended
*Top 2% on Coverfly, The Red List
*Semifinalist 2024 New York Horror Nights Film Festival
*Quarterfinalist 2025 ScreenCraft Horror Competition
*Finalist 2025 Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards
*Finalist 2024 Seattle Splatter Horror Fest
*Semifinalist 2025 ScreenCraft Awards
*Semifinalist 2025 Los Angeles International Awards
*Semifinalist 2025 Inroads Screenwriting Fellowship
*Quarterfinalist 2024 Los Angeles International Film Festival
*2025 Red List
*The Black List - Featured Script
*Official Selection 2025 Los Angeles Film & Script Festival
*Finalist 2025 Montreal Film Festival
*Semifinalist 2025 Emerging Screenwriter Competition
*Semifinalist 2025 Los Angeles International Awards
*Semifinalist 2025 Fade In Screenplay Fellowship
*Quarterfinalist 2025 Final Draft Big Break Contest
*Quarterfinalist 2025 Emerging Screenwriters Competition
*Quarterfinalist 2025 PAGE International Awards
screenplays
Drama/Tragicomedy
Contained Elevated Horror
Comedy
*Finalist 2025 Pacific Northwest Drama Screenplay Awards
*Semifinalist 2025 Rhode Island International Film Festival
*Semifinalist 2025 Filmmatic Drama Screenplay Awards
*Semifinalist 2025 Los Angeles International Awards
* Quarterfinalist 2025 New York Metropolitan Awards
Join us as we analyze one screenplay at a time, celebrating its stand-alone beauty as a unique literary device, independent of the final film. From exploring tone and theme to dissecting structure and unforgettable characters, we break down what makes each script sizzle. Dive into the rich imagery and clever narrative devices that create a sensory experience on the page. Hosted by Jeff Barker, this storytelling podcast offers a deep dive into the creativity and precision of screenwriting.
Jeff Barker
Jeff Barker is a screenwriter and author.
He hosts the weekly podcast: The Screenplay Lab.
He is the GRAND PRIZE Winner of FADE IN's 2025 Horror Screenwriting Competition and a BLACK LIST RECOMMENDED writer.
His screenplays have been honored at numerous other film festivals and writing contests, including the Austin Film Festival, Stage 32, FILMMATIC, The Red List, Los Angeles International, New York Horror Nights, ScreenCraft, Vail, Big Apple, Los Angeles Film & Script Festival, and Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Jeff has been published in over a dozen literary journals and anthologies. His short stories have been performed live in Ashton Hayes Theatre Club in Cheshire, UK; and the KGB Bar in New York.
Previous to his full-time writing career, Jeff spent many years working as a provider in the field of psychiatry.
Before that, he had a nine-year career as an award-winning television news anchor and reporter. He has been featured on NBC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, The Weather Channel, and CNBC.
Two of his children work in the film industry. Curry Barker is an admired director, actor, and comedian. Riley Barker is a cinematographer.
