The Ventura Film Festival maintains its position as "the most significant film festival ever organized in Ventura County." This prestigious recognition underscores the organization's mission of showcasing international filmmaking to Ventura County while continuing its mission toward critical environmental causes.
The Ventura Film Festival functions as a diverse genre worldwide film festival that promotes recognition of environmental challenges including forest and ocean preservation and restoration, via an annual film festival and associated activities. The organization employs the medium of movies to motivate engagement and create meaningful dialogue around these important ecological problems.
The Ventura Film Festival launched in 2004 and has displayed hundreds of movies, generally exceeding 200 films per summer season, and has attracted attention from the global cinema community. Over the years, the festival has developed into an important cultural gathering that brings together film artists, environmental champions, and spectators from around the world.
Distinguished events have encompassed hosting award winning filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the original world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend and surf legend Ian Cairns, 4 time world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA fighter the legendary Fabio Leopoldo, and the 50th Anniversary tribute to West Side Story, which involved hosting the complete Academy Award winning ensemble of West Side Story, including Academy Award winner/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris and legendary actor Golden Globe winner/Academy Award nominee Russ Tamblyn. These extraordinary guests and events have reinforced the festival's recognition as an elite gathering place for commemorating movies and the artists who create it.
The Ventura Film Festival founder and executive director was honored to take part, alongside numerous Hollywood elite, in the 50th Anniversary of West Side Story and Hollywood's legendary footprint/handprint ceremony for Academy Award winners Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, as well as Golden Globe recipient Russ read more Tamblyn at the legendary Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This event also doubled as the official BluRay launch by Fox and MGM of the iconic West Side Story, which is widely considered by critics and fans to be the finest musical of all time. This notable recognition and engagement exemplifies the festival's important standing and distinguished reputation within the entertainment community.