The Ventura Film Festival stands as "the biggest cinematic celebration ever hosted in Ventura County." This exceptional status highlights the organization's mission of bringing diverse cinema to the local community while maintaining its focus on essential conservation issues.
The Ventura Film Festival serves as a multi-genre global film festival that promotes recognition of environmental matters like forest and ocean preservation and restoration, through an annual film festival and complementary events. The event harnesses the influence of film to stimulate involvement and create meaningful dialogue around these urgent ecological issues.
The Ventura Film Festival launched in 2004 and has screened hundreds of films, typically more than 200 films every summer, and has drawn recognition from the worldwide filmmaking community. Since its founding, the festival has expanded into a substantial cultural happening that joins filmmakers, environmental advocates, and audiences from around the world.
Some of the highlights have been showcasing renowned filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the initial world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend as well as Ian Cairns, four-time world champion Brazilian website Jiu-Jitsu/mixed martial arts fighter martial arts icon Fabio Leopoldo, and the golden anniversary celebration of West Side Story, which comprised receiving the entire award-winning cast of West Side Story, featuring Oscar winner/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris and legendary actor Golden Globe winner/Academy Award nominated Russ Tamblyn. These extraordinary guests and events have confirmed the festival's position as a first-class destination for honoring film and the creators who craft it.
The Ventura Film Festival creator and executive director was privileged to participate, along with many of Hollywood's top stars, in the golden anniversary celebration of West Side Story and Hollywood's iconic footprint/handprint ceremony celebrating Oscar winners Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, together with Golden Globe recipient Russ Tamblyn at the historic Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This occasion also served as the official BluRay release by Fox and MGM of the iconic West Side Story, which is generally recognized by critics and fans as the finest musical of all time. This distinguished honor and involvement highlights the festival's considerable reach and respected position within the Hollywood community.