Speakers & Entertainment
Speakers and Entertainment for DigiFest 2025 will be announced soon…
Check out our Line-Up from DigiFest 2024
Matt Sellars, Emmy Award Winning Director
Keynote Speaker
Matt Sellars is a 6x Emmy Award winning Director with over 30 years of live television experience. With a Film & TV degree from SDSU, Matt worked in local news and indie film before getting a call from ESPN. When he’s not directing SportsCenter from Los Angeles, Matt is probably sitting in the bleachers with his wife Sara watching their son pitch for the high school team. They live in LA with two dogs and one annoyed cat.
Kelly Thiebaud, Emmy Award Winning Actress
Keynote Speaker
Kelly is a 2 time Emmy nominee and one win for her role as Dr. Britt Westbourne on General Hospital. Following her Emmy win, Kelly was asked to come back and reprise her fan favorite role as Eva in ABC’s Station 19 and also appeared on an episode of the latest series of Magnum P.I. on NBC. She is from a small town in Texas and was a star athlete, excelling in soccer, volleyball, softball, basketball and track. Graduating after three years, she moved to Los Angeles at 17 with a modeling contract and experienced the highs and lows of the modeling world. She started taking acting classes and got booked on commercials such as Apple, Audi, Union Bay, McGregor and Levi’s. When headlining videos for the superstar DJ David Guetta, Kelly had the revelation that acting was her passion. Kelly won her first award after participating in the 48 Hour Film Festival in 2012, where she was named Runner up Best Actress. Inspired by her dad who kept reminding Kelly “you’re the toughest person I know”, a love of comedy drove her to expand her art craft by studying with The Groundlings, she also hosted sketch shows at The Second City, and was apart of the Sketch Group “Tickle Crisps” that performed in NYC and LA. Kelly has further ambitions to host a TV show and game show and possibly direct. Kelly loves to spend downtime with a karaoke mic in hand, cooking Italian for friends and playing with her adored pooch, Whiskey.
Evan J. Cholfin, Producer & CEO at LUXHAMMER
Keynote Speaker
Evan J. Cholfin, CEO & Founder of premiere production and management company, LUXHAMMER, is a producer and creative trailblazer with a remarkable two-decade track record spanning across TV, film, and branded entertainment. He’s brought Academy-Award-nominated films like The Irishman, Moneyball, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and Emmy-winning series The Night Of to life while venturing into groundbreaking territory with SEGA film & TV adaptations. He’s currently producing You Have Arrived with Oscar-nominated producer Laurence Mark (The Greatest Showman, Jerry Maguire) and filmmaker Daniel Robert Cohn writing and directing. In the branded world, Evan’s campaigns, such as “Two Bellmen” for JW Marriott and “Overachieving H2O” for Essentia Water, have achieved massive global impact. Evan’s influence extends beyond screens; he’s been featured in 3,000+ publications including Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Adweek, cementing his industry prominence. As the driving force behind LUXHAMMER, Evan crafts unforgettable experiences, connecting brands with over a billion people.
Michael Ruocco, Animator
Speaker
Michael Ruocco moved out to LA after graduating from the animation program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Since then, he’s worked on numerous animated productions as an animator, storyboard artist and storyboard supervisor, not limited to “BoJack Horseman“, “Wabbit/New Looney Tunes”, “Looney Tunes Cartoons”, “The Cuphead Show!” and “StoryBots: Answer Time!”. He also performs minor voice-over work for productions, including voicing Beaky Buzzard for “Looney Tunes Cartoons“. Outside his studio work, he creates his own independent short films and does freelance animation work for various independent projects across the globe.
Daniel Robert Cohn, Filmmaker
Speaker
Daniel Robert Cohn is an award-winning filmmaker who tells both epic and personal stories with pathos, humor, and heart, supported by his incredibly imaginative visuals. After successfully gaining worldwide distribution and a prime-time network television release for his first feature film, Cohn went on to write screenplays for Universal Pictures, Constantin Film, Robert Cort Productions, and Gold Circle. He continues to write and direct for film, TV, and branded; creating content for some of the top producers in Hollywood and largest companies in the world. He is planning a feature film called You Have Arrived with Academy Award-nominated Laurence Mark (The Greatest Showman, Dreamgirls, Jerry Maguire) and LUXHAMMER producing. Brands he’s worked with include Microsoft, Disney, Marvel, Activision, Airstream, SPY+, JPMorganChase, Mutual of Omaha, Oracle, Coffee Meets Bagel, and Jeep. Cohn’s recent branded entertainment campaign for SuperMouth was a storytelling universe spanning across film, a festival premiere, a live interactive event, a comic book, a music video, original songs, and more, gaining massive reach across media (over one billion UVM), was featured in Adweek, Yahoo! Finance, and listed by Springboard as one of “The 4 Best Summer Marketing Campaigns of 2023”.
Richard Tiland, Film Producer
Speaker
A digital storytelling pioneer, Richard Tiland has been crafting award-winning online films and VR experiences since 2006. Long before “going viral” became the norm, he saw the power of engaging video content to capture audience attention on platforms like YouTube and Facebook. As owner and executive producer at New Evolution Video, San Diego’s premier film and video company, Richard partners with brands like Forbes, ESPN, SuperMouth, Hyundai, NuVasive, and SONY to name a few and creates
concise, simple, and memorable messaging that sparks online growth and audience loyalty. His expertise extends beyond the digital realm, with dk3studios, his San Diego movie and photo studio, serving as a creative hub for compelling visual narratives since 2008.
Travis Guilliams, Singer/Songwriter
Guest Performer
Travis Guilliams, a musical virtuoso deeply entrenched in a rich spectrum of genres, is celebrated for his seasoned professionalism and exceptional proficiency across various instruments. As an accomplished guitarist, skilled pianist, dynamic percussionist, and harmonica enthusiast, Travis crafts performances enriched by a smooth and soulful voice, adding a captivating dimension to his artistry. Embarking on his musical odyssey as the frontman for the independent rock band Wood in the early 2010s, Travis seamlessly transitioned into becoming a sought-after session musician and studio artist. Presently based in Riverside County, he leads a compelling acoustic solo project, showcasing his instrumental prowess and captivating audiences on the Wine Vineyard circuit in the greater Temecula area. His repertoire seamlessly spans folk, 60s and 70s pop, jazz, blues, and traditional American singer-songwriter styles. Travis extends his influence beyond the stage, solidifying his place in San Diego’s historic underground music scene alongside accomplished singer-songwriters who have made an enduring impact. Known for his musical finesse and unwavering dedication, Travis Guilliams stands as a prominent figure in the vibrant and diverse San Diego music community. As he continues to evolve and innovate, Travis remains a captivating force in the world of music, leaving an indelible imprint on the hearts of listeners. Keep an ear tuned to the unfolding chapters of Travis Guilliams’ musical journey.
Joanna Pearl, Singer/Songwriter
Guest Performer
Joanna Pearl is a singer/entertainer with an undeniable passion for music that is reflected in her dynamic vocal strength, Joanna Pearl’s true-to-life songwriting portrays the heart of a woman ranging from independence to vulnerability. Her debut EP Sensitive Material, burst her onto the scene as an award-winner. She won ‘Hot AC Album of the Year’ at the 24th Annual LA Music Awards and is a 2x Digifest winner in 2019 and 2022, respectively. Joanna has opened for Andy Grammer, MC Hammer, and Tyrone Wells, including singing the national anthem for the LA Galaxy soccer club and many other prestigious events including the Grammys. Since her start, giving back as an active humanitarian has been a passion. In 2020, Joanna launched the non-profit Make Music Temecula, which was established to provide an equal platform for musicians of all skill levels, interests, and walks of life looking to inspire and provide access to musical instruments to all generations of musicians and
potential musicians in the Temecula Valley. Joanna’s most recent project, PearlAriseTM, debuted in 2023. It was born out of a deep appreciation for the artistry of pearl-designed jewelry and a passion for pieces that resonate with the human spirit. The mission is to “inspire individuals to break out of their shell and illuminate from within.” She is currently working on her full-length debut album due out in June 2024.
Summer Helene, Executive Producer & Media Marketer
Speaker
Former Executive Vice President of California Pictures at Paramount, Summer Helene is one of three females in her position and the youngest Executive in Hollywood History.
Summer Helene began her entertainment career as a Victoria’s Secret model before quickly transitioning into film. Summer spearheaded a new television format while working with the city of Sedona; She has helped celebrities, filmmakers, businesses, and social media influencers bring their product to screen and make them and their brand famous!
Summer has worked with several award-winning industry professionals, including Michael Burton, Owen Land, Lloyd Kaufman, Vasily Shumov, Dev Ross, and a variety of prestigious production companies, including Paramount Pictures, California Pictures, Mountain Pictures, Troma Entertainment, and Moon River Cinema.
Often Summer is asked to share her experiences in Hollywood on television, radio shows, panels at Comicon, most major Film Festivals, and on Friday nights, she hosts “Behind the Scenes” with the High
Point listenership of 6.5M as well as an Internet show with 1.8M viewers.
Stephanie Garcia, Social Media Marketer
Speaker
Stephanie Garcia is the founder of Captivate on Command® and the host of Lights, Camera, Live® where she helps brands succeed on camera. As a Master Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner, Trainer, and ad agency veteran, Stephanie combines her marketing experience to help individuals communicate with confidence so they can ignite their ideas and be brilliant for prospects and customers alike. Named one of the Top 50 Digital Marketing Thought Leaders by the University of Missouri St. Louis, her work has been recognized and awarded by Forbes, Online Marketing Media And Advertising, PR Daily, Forrester, and Gartner 1to1 Media.
Stephanie is the host of Lights, Camera, Live, and the co-founder of Leap Into Live Streaming Bootcamp. She has spoken at Social Media Marketing World, VidCon, Podcast Movement, and many more. Stephanie is the co-author of The Ultimate Guide to Social Media, published by Entrepreneur Press. She lives in San Diego, CA.
Marni Molina, A.I. Specialist, Author & Editor
Speaker
Marni Molina is a pioneering Storytelling Technologist, award-winning author, editor, and specialist in generative AI. With a multifaceted career that spans the nexus of narrative creativity and cutting-edge technology, Marni has dedicated her expertise to exploring how AI can revolutionize storytelling, making it more interactive, immersive, and accessible. She’s at the forefront of integrating generative AI into the creative process, empowering writers and creators with innovative tools and insights. In her off hours, Marni is a pop culture enthusiast and a bona fide horror nerd. She lives in San Diego with her family and cat, Zaphod.
Robert Welsh, A.I. Specialist, Co-Founder of Vivians.io
Speaker
Robert is a visionary business leader with over 20 years of experience in technology, systems, and sales. As the technical leader of Vivians.io, he is dedicated to harnessing the power of AI and automation to foster growth and enhance customer experiences. Driven by a passion for using technology for good, Robert believes in leveraging AI to handle tasks efficiently, freeing up humans to make more meaningful contributions to the world, especially in the arts. His commitment to purpose-driven digital transformation and his unique perspective as a musician make him a valuable resource for businesses and artists alike, seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of AI and automation.
Jarred “Bear” Fiorda, MMA Fighter & Digital Media Host
Speaker
Bear is a 2nd – degree black belt in Taekwondo, a mixed martial artist, an instructor of Taekwondo, jujitsu, and Hapkido, and a competitive MMA cage fighter.
Bear Fiorda was raised by a widowed single mother in Desert Hot Springs, California. After his father’s untimely death when Bear was five years old, his mother put him in martial arts as a way for him to cope with his anger.
Bear has seen firsthand the positive effects of martial arts on a community and the devastating impact its absence can have on its youth. Over the years, many of Bear’s friends ended up doing drugs and joining gangs, and where Bear graduated with honors and became the youngest taekwondo instructor in the country at age 14, his friends died.
Bear founded Free MMA to give financially insecure households the same opportunities his mother struggled so hard to provide for him and make martial arts lessons attainable to all.