Born in Biella, Barbera graduated in modern literature with a thesis about cinema history, and then started collaborating with the Turin film association AIACE, being its president between 1977 and 1989.

[1] Between 1980 and 1983 he was the film critic of the newspaper Gazzetta del Popolo,[1] and later collaborated with several publications, including La Stampa, as well as with radio and television programs.

[2] In 1982, he began a long collaboration with the Turin Film Festival, first as press officer, then as secretary-general and member of the selection committee from 1984 to 1988, and finally as director from 1989 to 1998.

[1][2] Between December 1998 and April 2002 Barbera was president of the Venice Film Festival, heading three editions (1999, 2000 and 2001).

[1][2] In 2004, he was nominated director of the National Museum of Cinema in Turin, a role he held until 2016.