Lifetree Film Fest Judges

David Balsiger

David W. Balsiger, LHD, is a health wellness journalist, TV producer-director, and author of 40 major literary works including 28 books. He is also the Editorial Director of the Wholistic Health-Wellness DIGEST. He's best known for his former work as Senior Producer at Grizzly Adams Productions, the producers of 600 family friendly movies, documentaries, and TV specials from 1999 - 2010. His books and TV shows have won over 275 national and international awards for literary and production excellence.

Jurgen Beck

German born award-winning composer Jurgen Beck began his musical journey early in life. His passion in music was directed toward training on the trumpet (Fluegelhorn), while at the same time picking up other instruments such as guitar, piano, and bass. His passion for harmonic structure stems from his early years of musical training in a brass choir in Germany. He is a creative film composer who loves to explore the multi-faceted aspects of music and how it affects the listener.

Jurgen, his wife Shawn, their daughter Arianna, and their two dogs, reside in northern Texas.

 

Mike Flaherty

Micheal Flaherty is the president and co-founder of Walden Media. Walden's mission is to rekindle curiosity and recapture imagination through the development and production of family films and literature. Walden has financed and produced a number of films, such as The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, Charlotte's Web, Bridge to Terabithia, Holes, Because of Winn-Dixie, and Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D. Through its publishing division, Walden has also co-published a number of award-winning books, including Mike Lupica's Comeback Kids series and the New York Times bestseller and Newbery honor winner Savvy by first-time author Ingrid Law.

As part of its mission, Walden creates innovative educational programs, lesson plans and events. Several hundred thousand students have participated in these events, including an international effort to read Charlotte's Web aloud and to collect toys for Toys for Tots, both of which resulted in the breaking of world records. Walden has also hosted an interactive writing workshop with Louis Sachar and a national robotics competition with James Cameron.

Flaherty is also on the board of Rachel's Challenge, a program created in memory of Rachel Scott, the first victim of the Columbine shootings. He is also a member of the Global Advisory Council of Vision360, an organization dedicated to supporting and founding churches across the country.

Flaherty lives in Lexington, Mass. with his wife Kelly, his son Christian, his daughters Eileen and Reagan, and his dog Jumbo.

 

Joani Schultz

Joani Schultz is chief creative officer at Group Publishing, Inc and also part of the team behind Lifetree Cafe, the national chain of conversation cafe's that spurred the Lifetree Film Fest.

She is a film connoisseur and fan of all things story. Each and every week, her team hunkers down and produces the weekly topics that are presented at Lifetree Cafe.

 

Katie Bucher

Katie Bucher is a Campaign Manager for WarnerBros. in Hollywood, CA. She has worked on theatrical campaigns including the Harry Potter films, The Dark Knight Rises and The Hobbit: Trilogy, as well as key projects in the Warner Archive Collection.

Katie has produced several short films, including Death & Money, winner of the Golden Ace Award at the Las Vegas Film Festival in 2010.  She also produced the latest music video Stop This Wedding for country rock headliners Against the Grain. Most recently she produced the award-winning film, The Tuner, currently on the international festival circuit. Katie lives in Los Angeles with her husband, John.

 

John Bucher

John Bucher owns Sideshow Media Group, a culture communications company, whose clients have included organizations ranging from Verve Music Group to The US Figure Skating Association to George Clooney. Sideshow also produces award-winning original music, comics, books and films around spiritual themes and areas of pop culture interest.

John has produced film, television and video programming in more than 30 countries around the world. His documentary work on AIDS in Africa received both Telly and Omni Awards. He has served as the head of the film department at Nyack College in New York and the Executive Director for the Damah Film Festival. He serves as the Director for Story Development for the Global Short Film Network, an international organization producing short films intended to spark spiritual discussions. He is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and continues to lecture on story, film and pop culture around the world.

Currently, John teaches at the Los Angeles Film Studies Center. His latest film, WHEN KINGS BATTLE stars James Kyson from NBC's hit show HEROES, and is a steampunk retelling of the story of King David, Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan. His first book, There is Power in the Blood: Faith + the Rising Vampire in Popular Culture was released last year. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Katie.

Mike Vogel

An accomplished actor, Mike Vogel has crafted a distinguished career in both film and television in just a short period of time.  Currently Vogel is starring in the highly anticipated new CBS show "Under The Dome".

Vogel just wrapped shooting a great arc, opposite Vera Farmiga, on A&E's new show "Bates Motel", which premiers this Spring. Most recently, he can be seen in the independent films McCanick for Josh Waller and Jake Squared for Howard Goldberg, both will be released next year. Vogel was recently seen in the 2012 Oscar nominated film The Help alongside Emma Stone and Octavia Spencer. He also starred in the ABC's TV series "Pan Am" opposite Christina Ricci.

In 2011, Vogel appeared in Blue Valentine alongside Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling which premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, as well as She's Out of My League.  Additional film credits include J.J. Abram's Cloverfield, Poseidon, What's Your Number, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  Vogel's television credits include "Grounded for Life" and "Miami Medical." Vogel resides in Austin with his wife and two daughters.