Meet our Judges
Each year Highbridge invites directors, writers, actors, and artists from the Film and Television industry to judge the category awards from the official selection films. They join us at Asbury for festival weekend, giving seminars, workshops, attending the filmmakers’ reception, the Showcase Awards and After Party.
The 2026 Judges Panel
JAMES KRIEG
Writer, Producer, Showrunner
After his parents told him that watching too much TV was “a complete waste of time,” Jim Krieg has spent his adult life trying to prove them wrong. Most recently, he completed an eight-year run at Warner Bros. Animation, overseeing more than 40 animated features, including much of the DC Super Hero film slate and franchises like Scooby-Doo and Mortal Kombat. He concluded his tenure by writing and producing DC’s first animated trilogy, Crisis on Infinite Earths. Krieg has written across animation and live action, including the fan-favorite Supernatural episode “Scoobynatural,” head writing duties on Spooksville (two Emmy nominations and a WGA-nominated episode), television films for Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, and staff work on Monk and Clueless. His YA novel, Griff Carver, Hallway Patrol, was nominated for an Edgar Award. In addition to his industry work, Jim enjoys teaching part-time at Asbury University, where he shares his love of film history and storytelling with the next generation of filmmakers.
MICHELLE JUBILEE GONZALES
Actor, Stuntperson, Producer, Storyteller
Michelle Jubilee Gonzalez is a two-time Screen Actors Guild Awards nominee and a multi-hyphenate storyteller working across film and television as a writer, producer, executive producer, actress, and stunt performer. Her career bridges performance and production, giving her a rare 360-degree perspective on set culture, physical storytelling, creative leadership, and the real-world decisions that move projects from script to screen. With more than 200 film and television productions to her credit, Michelle recently served as a producer and screenwriter on Christmas North of Nashville, a feature film distributed by Great American Family. Michelle is also a founding executive of Ethical Media Group (EMG), an innovative entertainment company and platform designed to modernize how film and television are financed, owned, and distributed. In addition, Michelle is the Founder and Executive Director of the Paragon Institute of Innovation, where she works at the intersection of creativity, sustainability, and workforce development, championing innovation and long-term impact across industries. Passionate about craft and entrepreneurship, Michelle is honored to support emerging filmmakers through the Highbridge Film Festival, championing bold visual storytelling, clarity of intent, and collaboration rooted in professionalism and respect.
DAVID NEGRON JR.
Storyboard Artist, Visual Effects Supervisor, Second Unit Director
David J. Negron Jr. is a veteran film professional with decades of experience working on major Hollywood productions. His career includes work as a storyboard artist, visual effects supervisor, and second unit director on films such as National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Lethal Weapon 2, National Treasure, and Clear and Present Danger. In recent years, he has continued contributing to large-scale studio productions, including Kong: Skull Island, Venom, and In the Heights. He is currently collaborating with Kevin Costner on Horizon: An American Saga. In addition to his film work, Negron has taught seminars and guest lectures at the University of Nebraska and Chapman University. He brings extensive industry experience and a strong commitment to mentorship to this year’s judging panel.
Past Festival Judges
MARIA CANALS-BARRERA [’25]
Actor
BARRY COOK [’25]
Director, Visual Effects Artist
DAVID BARRERA [’25]
Actor
CHRISTINE SWANSON [’24, ’18]
Director, Producer, Screenwriter
MATT GIBLIN [’24]
Cinematographer, Technology Director, Producer
KATIE HOOTEN [’24]
Studio Executive, Producer
BRADY NASFELL [’23, ’17]
Film and TV Producer
CORY EDWARDS [’23]
Director, Writer, Actor,
Comic
ANDREA NASFELL [’23, ’14]
Screenwriter
JOHN DECUIR, JR. [’23]
Production Design Artist
MANDI HART [’22, ’20]
Filmmaker, Attorney
JOEL MCCREARY [’22]
Actor, Writer, Director
JAMES COVELL [’22]
Composer, Conductor for
Film and Television
JUSTIN TOLLEY [’21]
Producer
KEVIN BRYAN [’21]
Director of Photography
TYLER HISEL [’21]
Writer, Producer
TERRY BOTWICK [’20]
Entertainment Industry Executive
STEVEN FRACOL [’20]
Director of Photography
MICHEAL SWANSON [’19]
Entertainment Industry Executive
NICOLE BAER [’19]
Editor, Director
DEAN BATALI [’19, ’16]]
Writer, Producer
DAVID MANOS MORRIS [’18]
Visual Effects Artist
SHERYL J. ANDERSON [’18]
Screenwriter
JENNIFER DORNBUSH [’17]
Screenwriter, Forensic Specialist
RYAN DORNBUSH [’17]
Entertainment Industry Executive
ALBERT MASON [’17]
Producer
NANCY STAFFORD [’17]
Actor, Director, Producer
JON MENICK [’17]
Actor, Talent Agent
CATHY CAMPBELL [’16, ’15]
Screenwriter
CLAY HASSLER [’16]
Director, Writer
DOUG JONES [’16]
Actor
ERIK LOKKESMOE [’15, ’08]
Entertainment Industry Executive
PEGGY KIM [’15]
Executive Producer
JASON EPPERSON [’15, ’09]
Screenwriter
JIM VAN EERDEN [’14]
Executive Producer
CHRISTOPHER BESSETTE [’13]
Director, Producer, Writer
LANA CORBY [’13] Entertainment Industry Executive
BRIAN GODAWA [’13, ’09]
Filmmaker, Designer, Author.
RODNEY CHARTERS [’13]
Director, Cinematographer
KAREN COVELL [’12]
Producer, Hollywood Prayer Network
PETER J. LEHMAN [’12, ’11]
Composer, Sound Designer
BRIAN BAUGH [’12] Director, Screenwriter
JANET BATCHLER [’12]
Writer, USC Film School Professor