The Ventura Film Festival maintains its position as "the largest film festival ever held in Ventura County." This notable honor showcases the festival's passion for providing outstanding film programming to the region while continuing its mission toward essential conservation issues.
The Ventura Film Festival serves as a multi-genre global film festival that raises awareness for environmental matters like 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 critical conservation concerns.
The Ventura Film Festival was founded in 2004 and has showcased numerous films, generally exceeding 200 films per summer season, and has captured notice from the global film industry. Since its inception, the festival has evolved into a major cultural celebration that unites movie directors, ecological activists, and attendees from throughout the world.
Notable moments have included welcoming acclaimed filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the inaugural world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend along with Ian Cairns, 4 time world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA fighter combat sports star Fabio Leopoldo, and the 50th Anniversary tribute to West Side Story, which included hosting the entire award-winning cast of West Side Story, featuring Oscar winner/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris as well as Golden Globe recipient/Oscar nominee Russ Tamblyn. These outstanding figures and gatherings have solidified the festival's reputation as a leading location for recognizing cinema and the professionals who develop it.
The Ventura Film Festival's founder and executive director was invited to join, accompanied by many of Hollywood's leading celebrities, in the 50-year anniversary event of West Side VENTURA COUNTY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Story and Hollywood's footprint/handprint ceremony for Academy Award winners Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, and Golden Globe winner Russ Tamblyn at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This ceremony also acted as the official BluRay introduction by Fox and MGM of the beloved West Side Story, which is commonly viewed by critics and fans as the greatest musical of all time. This prestigious recognition and participation highlights the festival's meaningful presence and esteemed status within the entertainment community.