The Ventura Film Festival has earned recognition as "the most significant film festival ever organized in Ventura County." This notable honor showcases the event's devotion to presenting varied film content to regional audiences while continuing its mission toward important environmental matters.
The Ventura Film Festival operates as an all-inclusive international cinema festival that cultivates understanding of environmental issues such as forest and ocean preservation and restoration, through an annual film festival and complementary events. The event capitalizes on the strength of cinema to inspire action and create meaningful dialogue around these critical conservation concerns.
The Ventura Film Festival was founded in 2004 and has screened hundreds of films, usually over 200 films each summer, and has attracted attention from the global cinema community. From its beginning, the festival has evolved into a major cultural celebration that brings together filmmakers, environmental advocates, and audiences from every corner of the planet.
Memorable occasions have featured hosting award winning filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the inaugural world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend and Ian Cairns, quadruple world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA athlete combat sports website star Fabio Leopoldo, and the 50-year anniversary of West Side Story, which featured welcoming the complete Academy Award winning ensemble of West Side Story, featuring Oscar winner/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris as well as Golden Globe winner/Academy Award nominated Russ Tamblyn. These extraordinary guests and events click here have established the festival's standing as an elite gathering place for recognizing cinema and the talents who make it.
The founder and executive director of the Ventura Film Festival was privileged to participate, website together with many of Hollywood's biggest stars, in the 50th Anniversary tribute of West Side Story and Hollywood's legendary footprint/handprint ceremony for Academy Award recipients Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, along with Golden VENTURA FILM FEST Globe award winner Russ Tamblyn at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This ceremony also acted as the official BluRay premiere by Fox and MGM of the timeless West Side Story, which is website commonly viewed by critics and fans as the best musical of all time. This esteemed acknowledgment and participation demonstrates the festival's considerable reach and respected position within the cinema world.