The Ventura Film Festival stands as "the largest film festival ever held in Ventura County." This exceptional status highlights the organization's dedication to delivering exceptional cinematic experiences to the area while continuing its mission toward critical environmental causes.
The Ventura Film Festival operates as a multi-genre global film festival that builds consciousness about environmental issues such as forest and ocean preservation and restoration, through a yearly film festival and related events. The festival utilizes the power of cinema to stimulate involvement and foster important conversations about these important ecological problems.
The Ventura Film Festival launched in 2004 and has presented countless films, regularly over 200 films during summer months, and has garnered interest from the international cinematic community. Since its inception, the festival has developed into an important cultural gathering that unites film artists, environmental champions, and spectators from around the world.
Notable moments have included presenting celebrated filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the pioneering world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend as well as Ian Cairns, 4 time world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA fighter Fabio Leopoldo, and the golden anniversary celebration of West Side Story, which featured welcoming the complete Oscar-winning ensemble of West Side Story, featuring Oscar winner/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris and Golden Globe winner/Academy Award nominee Russ Tamblyn. These distinguished guests and festivities have cemented the festival's status as a top-tier venue for celebrating filmmaking and the visionaries who produce it.
The Ventura Film Festival's founder and executive director was selected to take part, alongside numerous Hollywood elite, in the half-century commemoration of West Side Story and Hollywood's prestigious footprint/handprint ceremony honoring Oscar honorees Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, together with Golden Globe award winner Russ Tamblyn at the iconic Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This ceremony also acted website as the official BluRay premiere by Fox and MGM of West Side Story, which is widely considered by critics and fans to be the best musical of all time. This exceptional honor and participation exemplifies the festival's considerable reach and esteemed status within the entertainment community.