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Joslyn Barnes

Joslyn Barnes

Producer, also writer

Primetime Emmy winner · Oscar nominee · BAFTA Award nominee · 4 other major award bodies

Joslyn Barnes is a film producer and writer. Known for Bamako (2006), The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 (2011), Cemetery of Splendour (2015), White Sun (2016), Zama (2017), Strong Island (2017) for which she received an Emmy Award for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking and an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature nomination, and Hale County This Morning, This Evening (2018) for which she received an Oscar nomination again for Best Documentary Feature. Barnes also produced and co-wrote the 2024 drama Nickel Boys (adapted from Colson Whitehead's titular novel), along with co-writer and director RaMell Ross, and was nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Description above from the Wikipedia article Joslyn Barnes, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Works as
Producer, also writer
Titles
40 on MovieCove · 54 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 21% in 30 days

What are Joslyn Barnes' films like?

Across their 38 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Self.

Genres

Documentary20 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Drama15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Society
19%
Self
19%
Survival
18%
Power
15%
Morality
13%
Ideas
9%
Bonds
8%
Justice8 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeMemory5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 37 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 2 · Serious 11 · Dark 24

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 18 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 7 · Charged 18 · Intense 12

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 19 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 36 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 30 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 19 · Full focus 11

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 2 · Affecting 16 · Heavy 19

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 6 · Open-ended 15 · Ambiguous 16

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Contemplative
27
Tense
23
Melancholic
18
Dread
11
Hopeful
8
Other
20

How their films linger

Thought-provoking23 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteInfuriating7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet16
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous17
  • Cyclical2
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Joslyn Barnes' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 40 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joslyn Barnes' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

54 credits, 40 with a MovieCove page.

  • Edward Said: Between Worlds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Executive Producer

  • Conbody vs Everybody(2024)

    Show 5 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Our Land(2025)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Trillion(2025)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Powwow People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Consulting Producer

  • Pooja, Sir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Executive Producer

  • Harvest(2024)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other(2024)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Nickel Boys(2024)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The End(2024)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • President(2021)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • EAMI(2022)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Crane Lantern(2021)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Memoria(2021)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Prayers for the Stolen(2021)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • In Between Dying (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Co-Producer

  • Gunda(2020)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Flee(2021)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • You Resemble Me(2021)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Easter Snap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Producer

  • Capernaum(2018)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Hale County This Morning, This Evening(2018)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Angels Are Made Of Light(2018)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Aquarela(2018)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Sollers Point(2017)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • That Summer(2017)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • This is Congo(2017)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Strong Island(2017)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Zama(2017)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • White Sun(2016)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Shadow World(2016)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Cameraperson(2016)

    Consulting Producer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • This Changes Everything (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Producer

  • Cemetery of Splendor(2015)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Strange Eyes of Dr. Myes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Executive Producer

  • The Narrow Frame of Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Producer

  • Concerning Violence(2014)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • For Those Who Can Tell No Tales(2013)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Shenandoah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Executive Producer

  • Highway(2012)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The House I Live In(2012)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Dum Maaro Dum(2011)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975(2011)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan(2010)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives(2010)

    Associate Producer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Time That Remains(2009)

    Associate Producer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Soundtrack for a Revolution(2009)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Salt of This Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Co-Producer

  • Trouble the Water(2008)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Bamako(2006)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Bàttu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Associate Producer · Writer

  • Touch of a Stranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Writer

  • Last Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • The Story of Documentary Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 4 episodes · Executive Producer

Career shape

A full career of 48 titles, 46 of them dated from 1990 to 2026.

Biggest box office

White Sun (2016)

$20M worldwide

Highest rated

Flee (2021)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Bamako (2006)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Writing4 of 48: 1 only writing, 3 with another roleProducing47 of 48: 44 only producing, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score80th

48 titles, 3 with more than one role — producing and writing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1990s1 · crew2000s6 · crew2010s23 · crew2020s16 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Awards

a Primetime Emmy and 1 other major award from 12 major nominations, 2010–2025.

WinNomination
  1. 2025
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Adapted Screenplay
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Motion Picture of the Year
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Screenplay (Adapted)
    • +3 other major bodies · 1 win and 2 nominations
      • Writers Guild Award, won · Adapted Screenplay
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Adapted Screenplay
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Feature
  2. 2019
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Documentary Feature
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Documentary
  3. 2018
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Documentary Feature
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking
  4. 2010
    • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Joslyn Barnes' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 79th percentile, the median of all 39; across their 37 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 82nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Approval · how many liked their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Reach · how many have seen their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Midcredits score across 40 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up25
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th5

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 40 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · producer

Conbody vs Everybody (2024)

93rd percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · producer

Capernaum (2018)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 51/100 and the plot and story 48/100 in their films, across 31 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Joslyn Barnes' work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, 3 of the 5 categories sit near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles16–60 · median 53 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles22–46 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles4–66 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 17 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 50 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Joslyn Barnes work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joslyn Barnes' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Danny Glover shares the most, 23.

Directors

Actors

Editors

Producers