The Ventura Film Festival proudly holds the distinction of being "the most extensive film festival in Ventura County's history." This exceptional status highlights the event's devotion to providing outstanding film programming to the region while maintaining its focus on essential conservation issues.
The Ventura Film Festival exists as a multi-genre global film festival that cultivates understanding of conservation issues such as terrestrial and aquatic preservation and renewal, via an annual film festival and associated activities. The festival leverages the impact of filmmaking to motivate engagement 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 captured notice from the international film community. Throughout its history, the event has grown into a significant cultural event that brings together cinematic professionals, conservation enthusiasts, and participants from around the world.
Significant highlights have been welcoming acclaimed filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the original world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend along with Ian Cairns, quadruple world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA athlete martial arts icon Fabio Leopoldo, and the 50th Anniversary tribute to West Side Story, which read more comprised receiving the complete Academy Award winning ensemble of West Side Story, featuring Oscar winner/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris along with Golden Globe winner/Oscar-nominated Russ Tamblyn. These outstanding figures and gatherings have cemented the festival's status as a first-class destination for recognizing cinema and the artists who create it.
The Ventura Film Festival founder and executive director was honored to take part, together with many of Hollywood's biggest stars, in the 50-year anniversary event of West Side Story and Hollywood's legendary footprint/handprint ceremony for Academy Award recipients Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, and legendary actor Golden Globe award winner Russ Tamblyn at the iconic Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This gathering also operated as the official BluRay release by Fox and MGM of the beloved West Side Story, which is widely considered by critics and fans to be the greatest musical of all time. This distinguished honor and involvement exemplifies the festival's considerable reach and distinguished reputation within the entertainment community.