The Ventura Film Festival proudly holds the distinction of being "the biggest cinematic celebration ever hosted in Ventura County." This notable honor showcases the organization's mission of showcasing international filmmaking to Ventura County while continuing its mission toward important environmental matters.
The Ventura Film Festival exists as a multi-genre global film festival that promotes recognition of environmental challenges including forest and ocean preservation and restoration, through an annual film festival and complementary events. The event capitalizes on the strength of cinema to encourage participation and foster important conversations about these urgent ecological issues.
The Ventura Film Festival began in 2004 and has screened hundreds of films, commonly surpassing 200 films each summer, and has garnered interest from the global cinema community. Over the years, the festival has developed into an important cultural gathering that joins cinematic professionals, conservation enthusiasts, and participants from across the globe.
Notable moments have included presenting celebrated filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the initial world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend as well as Ian Cairns, 4x world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA combatant the celebrated Fabio Leopoldo, and the 50th Anniversary tribute to West Side Story, which featured welcoming the complete Oscar-winning ensemble of West click here Side Story, featuring Academy Award honoree/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris together with Golden Globe winner/Academy Award nominee Russ Tamblyn. These outstanding figures and gatherings have solidified the festival's reputation as a premier destination for celebrating cinema and the visionaries who produce it.
The Ventura Film Festival creator and executive director was honored to take part, alongside numerous Hollywood elite, in the 50th Anniversary tribute of West Side Story and Hollywood's footprint/handprint ceremony for Academy Award winners Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, along with Golden Globe champion Russ Tamblyn at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This ceremony also acted as the official BluRay introduction by Fox and MGM of West Side Story, which is commonly viewed by critics and fans as the greatest musical of all time. This exceptional honor and participation illustrates the festival's considerable reach and valued role within the entertainment industry.