Barney Elliot graduated with a degree in Communications from the University of San Francisco. In 2003, he completed postgraduate studies in Filmmaking Art and Technique at the London Film School. Barney was one of six writer-directors selected to attend La Résidence at the Cannes Cinéfondation, from October 2007 to February 2008. In January 2009, he received a diploma for attending the five-month Screenwriting Development Workshop at Binger Filmlab in Amsterdam.