TEMECULA – Every April, Riverside County hosts Innovation Month, a month dedicated to showcasing innovative entrepreneurial activities and events happening throughout the county. When it comes to paving new pathways and making history, the #JDSFamily jumps right in.
JDS Creative Academy, the 2021 Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce Emerald nonprofit of the year organization, produces “Spirit of Innovation,” a monthly magazine-style news program and hosts DigiFest Temecula, the annual April three-day, digital-arts festival. The nonprofit works with neurodivergent adults and helps them produce a weekly broadcasted news and information TV and radio program, teaches actors and creatives of all ages the ins and outs of acting and the creative arts industries and more.
After the Temecula Film Festival disbanded in 2010, Diane Strand, co-founder of JDS Creative Academy, said there was a void left in the Valley. Noticing the area had a need for a splash of Hollywood, she said she was inspired to create DigiFest Temecula. The festival welcomes all digital and innovative mediums and all different artists’ expressions of life.
Riverside County is a supporter of DigiFest, and the county sponsored and included DigiFest in their Innovation Month highlights, starting in 2017 when both DigiFest and Innovation Month began.
DigiFest Temecula tickets are available at http://DigiFestTemecula.org. To make attendance as accessible as possible, ticket holders can decide whether they would like to attend virtually or in person when going through the check-out process.
Tickets start at $25 and go up to $150 for the all-access, three-day pass which includes food, entertainment, presentations, speakers, exhibits, screenings, people’s choice voting, awards banquet and more.
The #JDSFamily invited the public to join them and enjoy a weekend of all things relating to digital arts. The 2022 event opens Friday evening, April 22, with a blue-carpet welcome and networking, leading into keynote speakers: national publicity coach/casting director Jenny Brown and actress/international representative Kari Michaelsen. Both women are known for their impacts in the entertainment industry and are anticipated to bring an energetic presence to DigiFest 2022. Torin Floyd, performer and community activist, closes the night with his Soarin’ Torin presentation and entertainment.
On Saturday, April 23, DigiFest features Mario Ortiz, an Emmy award-winning director of photography, and actress, producer and comedian Renee Pezzotta, along with an animation, graphic artists and comic book panel which includes Andrew Fargo, Shaenon A. Garrity, James Crowly and Cathy Nolan. Later that evening, DigiFest will present the screenings of the competition finalists.
The festival concludes Sunday, April 24, with the awards banquet at the Temecula City Civic Center. Guests will enjoy entertainment, dinner, a DJ and keynote guest, Emmy award-winning voice actress Gina Tuttle, who is also known as the voice of the 81st annual Academy Awards, will share her journey. The 2022 DigiFest Temecula Festival will end with announcing the Digi winners, honorable mentions and People’s Choice awards.
For JDS Creative Academy, innovation is more than a month – it happens every day of the year. JDS Creative Academy’s innovation shows in their offering of opportunities that provide creative enrichment, self-confidence, leadership and collaborative skills needed to advance higher-arts education and obtain the expertise required to prosper in a competitive high-tech marketplace.
All are encouraged and welcome to join in spring, summer, fall and winter. There is always something going on at JDS Creative Academy for creatives and the community. To learn more about their classes, job-training program, events and DigiFest 2022, visit http://JDSCreativeAcademy.org or call 951-296-6715.
Submitted by JDS Creative Academy.
