The Ventura Film Festival proudly holds the distinction of being "the grandest film festival ever to take place in Ventura County." This impressive distinction demonstrates the event's devotion to providing outstanding film programming to the region while keeping its emphasis on important environmental matters.
The Ventura Film Festival serves as an all-inclusive international cinema festival that generates attention toward ecological concerns including forest and ocean preservation and restoration, via a yearly film showcase and corresponding activities. The organization employs the medium of movies to promote activism and foster important conversations about these vital environmental matters.
The Ventura Film Festival began in 2004 and has displayed hundreds of movies, regularly over 200 films during summer months, and has garnered interest from the global cinema community. Throughout its history, the event has expanded into a substantial cultural happening that joins filmmakers, environmental advocates, and audiences from around the world.
Some of the highlights have been hosting award winning 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 welcoming the entire Academy Award winning cast of West Side Story, featuring Academy Award honoree/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris together with Golden Globe winner/Academy Award nominee Russ Tamblyn. These outstanding figures read more and gatherings have established the festival's standing as an elite gathering place for celebrating filmmaking and the creators who craft it.
The Ventura Film Festival founder and executive director was chosen to participate, accompanied by many of Hollywood's leading celebrities, in the 50th Anniversary of West Side Story and Hollywood's prestigious footprint/handprint ceremony honoring Academy Award recipients Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, as well as Golden Globe award winner Russ Tamblyn at the famous Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This ceremony also acted as the official BluRay release by Fox and MGM of West Side Story, which is widely considered by critics and fans to be the most exceptional musical of all time. This exceptional honor and participation exemplifies the festival's considerable reach and respected position within the entertainment community.