Alex Barnes

Development Exec | Producer | Director | Board Member, HRTSA

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Commercial Rep Australia | Katherine Cooke Cartel Films

Drawing on 14 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Alex has proven himself to be a dedicated and innovative executive & filmmaker, with a track record of selling high-end content at major US studios, producing top-tier film projects, and cultivating strong partnerships with leading financiers. In 2022 Coverfly and The Tracking Board named Alex on their inaugural Industry NEXT LIST of rising development executives. From his filmmaking roots Alex brings a deep understanding of the production landscape having spearheaded documentary productions for a number of leading Australian networks including NOT A WILLING PARTICIPANT for ABC and Qantas Inflight, as well as A WAR OF HOPE for SBS/NITV.

In 2014 he was one of the producers on the iconic Australian anthology feature film, TIM WINTON’S THE TURNING, starring Cate Blanchett and Rose Byrne which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2014. The film received best film nominations at the AACTA Awards, Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the Australian Film Critics Association Awards. Subsequently Screen Producers Australia (SPA) named Alex in their “ones to watch” emerging producers program.

Since moving to Los Angeles Alex has worked on TV, Film and podcasts including HOUSE OF CARDS, MANHUNT: UNABOMBER, SWIMMING WITH SHARKS, MASTERMINDS, RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE, JETT and the FIFTY SHADES OF GREY franchise. He’s been a core part of development teams that have sold projects to major platforms including: Disney+, Universal Pictures, Max, FX, Amazon, Netflix, ABC Signature, Fox, UCP, MGM+ and Peacock.

In podcast Alex has worked in story and production development on content for Wondery and iHeartRadio. He produced AUDIOFLIX’S SHELL alongside Academy Award nominated Producer Dana Brunetti (THE SOCIAL NETWORK).

Alex has served as a judge on screenwriting competitions including Final Draft’s Big Break, ScreenCraft and The Launchpad‘s Feature Competition. He currently serves on the board for Hollywood Radio & Television Society‘s fastest growing Associates division as well as the Industry committee for Australians In Film.

During his career in Australia Alex worked on blockbuster formats including THE AMAZING RACE AUSTRALIA and GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA. In branded content and commercial he has worked for clients including Volvo, SAP, Pernod Ricard, Flight Centre, Dreamworld theme parks, XXXX Brewery, Surf Lifesaving Queensland, Baseball Australia, Griffith University and more. Alex has directed and produced high concept music videos for artists including Ball Park Music, Emma Louise, Hungry Kids of Hungary and Eurovision artist Kate Miller-Heidke.

Over his career Alex has produced and edited multichannel video art installations for artists including Vernon Ah Kee, Judy Watson, and Richard Bell. These works have become permanent installations and collections for international galleries including the renowned The Tate Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Queensland Multicultural Centre, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, and National Gallery of Victoria, these works have exhibited internationally at notable art festivals such as The Istanbul Biennial.

Alex’s work is driven by an unwavering focus on timeless storytelling and the art of filmmaker craft. He is a graduate of Queensland College of Art’s Griffith Film School. When not working you’ll often find Alex gardening, playing baseball or camping underneath the stars across incredible wilderness backcountry.