The Ventura Film Festival stands as "the most significant film festival ever organized in Ventura County." This remarkable achievement reflects the festival's passion for bringing diverse cinema to the local community while maintaining its focus on essential conservation issues.
The Ventura Film Festival is established as an open genre international film festival that cultivates understanding of environmental matters like woodland and marine conservation and recovery, via an annual film festival and associated activities. The event capitalizes on the strength of cinema to encourage participation and establish purposeful communication concerning these critical conservation concerns.
The Ventura Film Festival was founded in 2004 and has presented countless films, regularly over 200 films during summer months, and has garnered interest from the worldwide filmmaking community. Since its founding, the festival has expanded into a substantial cultural happening that brings together cinema creators, conservation supporters, and viewers from website across the globe.
Memorable occasions have featured presenting celebrated filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the inaugural world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend along with Ian Cairns, quadruple world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA athlete the legendary Fabio Leopoldo, and the 50th Anniversary of West Side Story, which involved hosting the full Academy Award winning cast from West Side Story, featuring Oscar winner/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris and legendary actor Golden Globe winner/Academy Award nominated Russ Tamblyn. These extraordinary guests and events have cemented the festival's status as a premier destination for commemorating movies and the professionals who develop it.
The founder and executive director of the Ventura Film Festival was honored to take part, along with many of Hollywood's top stars, in the half-century commemoration of West Side Story and Hollywood's legendary footprint/handprint ceremony for Academy Award recipients Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, and legendary actor Golden Globe winner Russ Tamblyn at the historic Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This occasion also served as the official BluRay debut by Fox and MGM of the timeless West Side Story, which is commonly viewed by critics and fans as the greatest musical of all time. This distinguished honor and involvement demonstrates the festival's important standing and valued role within the cinema world.