The Ventura Film Festival maintains its position as "the biggest cinematic celebration ever hosted in Ventura County." This notable honor showcases the festival's passion for providing outstanding film programming to the region while sustaining its commitment to important environmental matters.
The Ventura Film Festival functions as an open genre international film festival that cultivates understanding of ecological concerns including forest and oceanic conservation 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, generally exceeding 200 films per summer season, and has captured notice from the international cinematic community. Since its inception, the festival has grown into a significant cultural event that brings together cinema creators, conservation supporters, and viewers from across the globe.
Notable moments have included welcoming acclaimed filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the first ever world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend and Ian Cairns, 4 time world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA fighter combat sports star Fabio Leopoldo, and the half-century commemoration of West Side Story, which featured here welcoming the entire Academy Award winning cast of West Side Story, including Oscar recipient/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris along with Golden Globe winner/Oscar-nominated Russ Tamblyn. These exceptional personalities and celebrations have reinforced the festival's recognition as a top-tier venue for recognizing cinema and the artists who create it.
The founder and executive director of the Ventura Film Festival was honored to take part, along with several of Hollywood's premier talents, in the 50th Anniversary of West Side Story and Hollywood's prestigious footprint/handprint ceremony honoring Oscar winners Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, along 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 universally acknowledged by critics and fans as the ultimate musical of all time. This distinguished honor and involvement demonstrates the festival's meaningful presence and esteemed status within the entertainment community.