David Barker

David Barker is an American film editor, screenwriter, and director. He is known for editing the films Chasing Summer, Birds of Paradise (2021), The Edge of Democracy (2019) and White Sun (2016), as well as for directing the film Daylight (2010).

Career Barker studied philosophy and anthropology before pursuing a career in film. He has taught as a visiting professor at Brown University, Bard College, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Barker made his feature directorial debut with Afraid of Everything (1999); the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. He later directed the short film Seven Days (2004) and the feature Daylight (2010).

From 2001 to 2003, Barker served as artistic director of the Cinematexas International Short Film Festival, founded by Athina Rachel Tsangari.

Barker is a member of the American Cinema Editors (ACE). 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).

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 YearResultAwardCategoryWorkRef.2015 WonBrooklyn Film FestivalBest EditingFunny Bunny 2018 NominatedCinema Eye HonorsOutstanding Achievement in EditingThe Reagan Show 2019 NominatedCritics' Choice Documentary AwardsBest NarrationThe Edge of Democracy NominatedInternational Documentary AssociationBest Writing 2025 NominatedBest NarrationApocalypse in the Tropics WonCritics' Choice Documentary AwardsBest Writing