An inside look at how DigiFest® Temecula 2025 ignited a creative revolution—one student, one storyteller, one stage at a time.
In a quiet corner of Southern California, where vineyard hills roll like painted brushstrokes against endless blue sky, a revolution is quietly taking place.
It isn’t loud.
It isn’t broadcast from skyscrapers.
It didn’t arrive in a corporate press blast or a multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal.
It comes, instead, on the feet of artists, mentors, dreamers, and believers who understand something the modern world too often forgets:
Art is not entertainment. It is emancipation.
Creativity is not luxury. It is liberation.
And community is not an accessory. It is the birthplace of every enduring change.
This is DigiFest® Temecula 2025—a festival unlike any other, where the fusion of digital storytelling and human spirit form something more powerful than any script or scene could capture.
This is not just a gathering. This is an impact movement supported by artists and national news brands who want to make a difference in the future of special needs and neuro-diverse creatives.
Where Purpose Took the Stage
At the center of it all stood JDS Creative Academy (JDSCA), a nonprofit built not merely to train young creators, but to ignite them—to open pathways where doors had once been closed, to provide not just skill, but sovereignty over their futures.
For three transformational days, the halls of JDS Studios pulses with life: film screenings light up the Black Box Theater, hands-on workshops transform ideas into action, and Red Carpet interviews turn nervous students into rising stars.
Yet, beyond the applause, beyond the programming, something more sacred was happening: Dreams are being legitimized.
Futures are being formed.
And every participant—whether first-timer or professional—is becoming part of a legacy bigger than themselves.
“At DigiFest, you’re not just seen,” said one young participant, “you’re believed in.”
A Constellation of Creators Gathers
The 2025 lineup read like a masterclass in excellence—from Grammy coaches to filmmakers, business strategists to actors—graced the stages and studio spaces, not for fame, not for pay, but for impact.
This year’s all-star cast of speakers, coaches, artists, and creators includes:
- Juliet Landau – Actress, Director, Producer, Writer
- Jay Kogen – Emmy-Winning Comedy Writer, Director (The Simpsons, Frasier)
- David Fagan – Bestselling Author, CEO of Top Talent
- Denice Duff – Actress, Director, Entrepreneur
- Allie Bloyd – Marketing Consultant, HighLevel Expert
- Steve Rohr – Publicist, Oscars Media Strategist, Educator
- Steven Memel – Performance Coach to Grammy Winners
- Johnny V (Venokur) – Actor, Comedian, Life Coach
- Jorge R. Gutierrez – Director, Animator (The Book of Life)
- Martin Pearson – Writer
- Deverill Weekes – Cinematographer, Film Producer
- Timothy Duffy – Emmy Award-Winning Producer
- Michael Silver – VP, The Los Angeles Tribune
- Kari Michaelsen – Host, Producer (Gimme a Break!)
- Dannella Burnett – Event Producer, Strategist
- Justine Reiss – VO Artist, Meditation Leader, Author
- Jaxzi – Bilingual Singer/Songwriter
- Flem – All-Female Rock Band
They showed up because they believed. Because they understood: sometimes standing on a stage isn’t about being seen—it’s about making sure others are.
- Every speaker here is planting seeds in soil most of the world forgets even exists. And they are doing it without expecting anything back.
Their gift of presence became a gift of permission to hundreds of emerging creators: permission to dream louder, permission to build boldly, permission to believe again.
In the fleeting world of media, this was something rare. And something enduring.
Red Carpets Rolled Out for Purpose, Not Pretense
Under the lenses of official media partners San Diego Weekly and the Dubai Business Journal, DigiFest 2025’s Red Carpet wasn’t reserved for celebrities alone—it was open to students, mentors, parents, and pioneers.
Cameras flashed not just for who’s who, but for what’s possible.
Present to amplify this mission were the executive leaders of The Los Angeles Tribune, whose presence turned local coverage into global celebration:
- Moe Rock, CEO and international media visionary, championing new platforms for authentic storytelling.
- Ava V Manuel, Editor-in-Chief and Mrs. Enterprise America 2025, whose leadership ignites empowerment and entrepreneurial legacy.
- Parisa Rose, COO and strategic architect of expansion.
- Michael Silvers, Vice President and global speaker coach.
- Dawna Campbell, Managing Partner of the Film Division, wealth strategist, and storytelling advocate.
- Misty Kerrigan, Director of Nonprofit and Foster Youth Initiatives, therapist and trailblazer for hope.
Each leader’s presence was not symbolic—it was strategic. Together, they bridge art, entrepreneurship, media, and mentorship into a new template for success.
The Work Beyond the Weekend
Long after the spotlights cooled, the impact of DigiFest endures.
Every dollar raised, every sponsorship secured, every story told fuels JDS Creative Academy’s accredited programs, ensuring that the next filmmaker, designer, actor, coder, or podcast host has access not just to education—but to destiny.
Through Title 17 training, California Apprenticeship standards, and workforce development certifications, JDSCA students are not simply learning to create—they are creating a life of autonomy, visibility, and contribution.
“JDS isn’t building careers,” said one festival sponsor, “they’re building foundations of dignity.“
And in a world desperate for authentic voices, that is perhaps the most important artistry of all.
A Festival That Will Outlive Its Footprints
DigiFest® Temecula 2025 is more than a highlight reel.
It is a horizon.
The Los Angeles Tribune is honored to not merely cover events like DigiFest—we are committed to championing the missions behind them.
Because when art meets opportunity, and opportunity meets action, the future doesn’t just arrive.
It transforms.
And that is the kind of story the world needs more of.
For more about JDS Creative Academy’s transformative programs, visit:
www.jdscreativeacademy.org
To stay connected for future DigiFest® Temecula events and initiatives:
www.digifesttemecula.org
About DigiFest® Temecula
Founded in 2017 to fill the void left by the Temecula Valley International Film Festival, DigiFest® Temecula is a digital media celebration and competition created by JDS Creative Academy. It exists to inspire, elevate, and empower multimedia creators of all ages and skill levels through workshops, awards, mentorship, and visibility. www.digifesttemecula.org
DigiFest® Temecula 2025 is made possible by the generous support of sponsors who believe in storytelling as a force for transformation. These include: Abbott, Pechanga Resort Casino, City of Temecula, California State University San Marcos, EMWD, The Los Angeles Tribune, San Diego Weekly, Dubai Business Journal, The Vine 102.5 FM, Spirit of Innovation, Graze Craze, Promenade Temecula, Sofa Spectrum Furniture, Rosati’s Pizza, Star Way Productions, Cave Women’s Wine Room, NitPrint, Home2 Suites by Hilton, Riverside County Office of Economic Development, and The Law Offices of Rosenstein & Associates.
About JDS Creative Academy
JDS Creative Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to workforce development and arts education through hands-on training in video production, acting, and digital communication. The academy serves neurodiverse individuals, students, and aspiring professionals through inclusive, accredited programming. www.jdscreativeacademy.org
About Scott and Diane Strand
Diane Strand, Emmy-winning producer (General Hospital, Universal Studios, Disney Channel), and Scott Strand, SAG award-winning actor and coach, co-founded JDS Studios to bring top-tier training and opportunity to their community. Through JDS Creative Academy and JDS Actors Studio, they have launched over 100 performers into national careers and empowered thousands through creative expression. www.jdsactorsstudio.com
Event Location:
JDS Studios | 28069 Diaz Rd., Temecula, CA
Dates: April 25–27, 2025
Tickets & Schedule: www.digifesttemecula.org
#DigiFest2025 #CreateYourFuture #DigitalArtsMatter #JDSCreativeAcademy #EmpowerThroughArt
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