Asbury University Presents: 2021 Highbridge Film Festival

WILMORE, Ky., March 29, 2021 – Asbury University’s acclaimed School of Communication Arts will host the 2021 Highbridge Film Festival, bringing the live festival experience back home to campus on April 16 and 17. The annual event kicks-off with daytime seminars by our guest judges Friday, multiple screenings in Hughes Auditorium for the official selections Friday night and Saturday, and culminating in an outdoor award show and block party celebration Saturday evening.

“It’s fitting that this year’s theme is to ‘find your story.’ One year ago, our Highbridge film reel symbolically rolled down the iconic steps of Hughes Auditorium as we took the Festival online. This year, Asbury’s filmmakers have returned to campus with a whole new collection of stories,” said Todd Wold, Festival director. “We’ve designed separate screening times to accommodate social distance requirements, and planned an outdoor award show and celebration to make the return of Highbridge Film Festival as memorable as ever.”

Tickets include a scheduled screening time, admission to the Saturday night street party and awards show in “the cage” lot adjacent to the Miller Center for Communication Arts, and a voucher redeemable for a menu selection from one of the food trucks on hand. Screening times are available to the student community Friday at 7 and 9 PM and Saturday at 3 PM. A reserved screening for filmmakers, judges, administration, and special guests will be held Saturday evening at 7 PM. The street party and award show area opens with food and entertainment at 7 PM. The awards presentation starts at approximately 8:45 PM.

Tickets are $20 and available via the online portal at highbridgefilmfestival.com, with in-person sales available on campus at the Student Center beginning two weeks prior to the Festival weekend.

Official film selections for the festival are screened by an esteemed panel of film and creative industry professionals to determine student award-winners in the Narrative, Documentary, and Super Short categories. The 2021 judges panel includes Kevin Bryan, Tyler Hisel, and Justin Tolley.

Kevin Bryan is a Director of Photography with over 25 years of experience in the film and broadcast business. He works in multiple genres—commercials, promos, narrative, documentary, and feature-length films. He has been the Cinematographer on four feature-length films, including The Song, Midway to Love, and The Ultimate Legacy, and for a host of episodic dramas for television. He has also been a camera person and drone operator for numerous feature film projects.

Tyler Hisel is a writer-producer working in both the film and television industries. His recent television writing includes Treadstone on USA Network, Lore on Amazon Prime and Wayward Pines on Fox. His current high-profile film work includes writing The Fixer at Paramount Pictures with Ron Howard and Bradley Cooper attached, as well as adapting T. J. English's book The Corporation for Paramount Pictures with Benecio Del Toro attached to star and Leonardo DiCaprio serving as producer. Hisel is also a proud alum of Asbury University’s School of Communication Arts.

Justin Tolley graduated from film school in 2004 and has been in the film industry ever since, beginning as an intern and volunteer. His first feature film was Fireproof. After his work with the Kendrick Brothers, he moved to Hawaii to work on the hit television show Lost but left after two seasons to work exclusively in the faith-based film industry. As a producer, Tolley has been a part of over 20 feature films shot in over 15 states, including Overcomer, Courageous, October Baby, Moms’ Night Out, War Room and Woodlawn. Most recently, he has served as a producer for The Chosen, the first multi-season series about the life of Christ, and the highest crowd-funded TV series or film project of all time.

Given space constraints during the pandemic, this year’s in-person Festival events are limited to the Asbury campus community. Members of the public are invited to enjoy our Festival webcast on April 17, available to stream live from our web site's main page, Facebook page, or the Asbury University YouTube channel. Smart TVs are recommended for the best viewing experience.