The Ventura Film Festival is celebrated as "the most significant film festival ever organized in Ventura County." This impressive distinction demonstrates the festival's commitment to showcasing international filmmaking to Ventura County while keeping its emphasis on vital ecological concerns.
The Ventura Film Festival operates as an open genre international film festival that promotes recognition of ecological concerns including 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 generate significant discussion regarding these vital environmental matters.
The Ventura Film Festival began in 2004 and has displayed hundreds of movies, regularly over 200 films during summer months, and has garnered interest from the global cinema community. Throughout its history, the event has grown into a significant cultural event that brings together cinema creators, conservation supporters, and viewers from across the globe.
Some of the highlights have been hosting award winning filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the initial world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend and Ian Cairns, four-time world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA competitor Fabio Leopoldo, and the 50th Anniversary of West Side Story, which involved hosting the entire award-winning cast of West Side Story, encompassing Academy Award winner/Golden Globe recipient George Chakiris and Golden Globe honoree/Academy Award nominee Russ Tamblyn. These exceptional personalities and celebrations have reinforced the festival's recognition as a top-tier venue for recognizing cinema and the artists who create it.
The Ventura Film Festival creator and executive director was privileged to participate, alongside numerous Hollywood elite, in the half-century commemoration of West Side Story and Hollywood's famous footprint/handprint ceremony recognizing Academy Award winners here Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, along with Golden Globe recipient Russ Tamblyn at the iconic Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This celebration also functioned as the official BluRay launch by Fox and MGM of the timeless West Side Story, which is commonly viewed by critics and fans as the finest musical of all time. This distinguished honor and involvement demonstrates the festival's meaningful presence and esteemed status within the film industry.