Judges Announced for Highbridge 2012 Film Festival

WILMORE, KY. – The Highbridge Film Festival Committee has named the members of the 2012 Festival Judging panel. Industry professionals Ms. Janet Batchler, Mr. Brian Baugh, and Ms. Karen Covell, all of Los Angeles, Calif., join the Highbridge Film Festival Judging panel for the first time. Mr. Peter Lehman, Orlando, Fla., returns to the Highbridge Film Festival after serving as a judge at last year’s festival. This year’s festival will be held at Asbury University’s Hughes Auditorium on Saturday, April 21 at 7:30 PM.

“The judges are a critical part of the educational aspect of the film festival. We want industry professionals critiquing and judging our students films,” says Greg Bandy, one of the founders of the Highbridge Film Festival.

In addition to her teaching post at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, Batchler is a well-respected and accomplished writer in the film and production industry. Batchler, along with her husband and partner Lee Batchler, are well known for their scripts “Smoke and Mirrors”, “Batman Forever”, and “My Name is Modesty.”

Baugh is a director and screenwriter with more than 15 years of experience in the film industry. He is best known for directing the teen drama “To Save a Life.” He desires to tell stories that inspire audiences, foster justice and healing, or expand wonder and imagination in the world.

Covell is a television producer, director of the Hollywood Prayer Network (HPN) and co-founder and producer for JC Productions, an independent television and music production company. She has worked on many television productions, including “The Two Lives of Carol Letner” and “Players or Pawns.”

Returning for his second year, Lehman comes to the Highbridge Film Festival as an accomplished sound designer, mixer, and composer. His work on Braveheart garnered an Oscar for Best Sound Effects Editing and an MPSE Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Effects Editing. Lehman’s screen credits also include works such as; Mulan, The Prince of Egypt, Jerry McQuire, and Homeward Bound.

The Highbridge Film Festival Planning committee is excited to welcome these four professionals to Asbury’s campus to take part in the film festival. The judges serve as an important part of the festival, sharing their wisdom in more ways than just judging films. “We bring them in not just to judge, but to hold special workshops for all of our students, workshops that all of our student body can attend,” said Bandy.