The Ventura Film Festival maintains its position as "the biggest cinematic celebration ever hosted in Ventura County." This notable honor showcases the festival's passion for providing outstanding film programming to the region while sustaining its commitment to vital ecological concerns.
The Ventura Film Festival operates as a diverse genre worldwide film festival that generates attention toward environmental challenges including terrestrial and aquatic preservation and renewal, through an annual film festival and complementary events. The organization employs the medium of movies to promote activism and generate significant discussion regarding these important ecological problems.
The Ventura Film Festival launched in 2004 and has screened hundreds of films, regularly over 200 films during summer months, and has generated excitement within the global film industry. Over the years, the festival has expanded into a substantial cultural happening that joins cinematic professionals, conservation enthusiasts, and participants from around the world.
Some of the highlights have been hosting award winning filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the first ever world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend and Ian Cairns, 4 time world champion Brazilian click here Jiu-Jitsu/MMA fighter combat sports star Fabio Leopoldo, and the half-century commemoration 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 and Golden Globe winner/Academy Award nominee Russ Tamblyn. These outstanding figures and gatherings have reinforced the festival's recognition as a first-class destination for celebrating filmmaking and the artists who create it.
The Ventura Film Festival's founder and executive director was privileged to participate, along with several of Hollywood's premier talents, in the 50-year anniversary event of West Side Story and Hollywood's famous footprint/handprint ceremony recognizing Academy Award recipients Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, and legendary actor Golden Globe honoree Russ Tamblyn at the historic Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This event also doubled as the official BluRay debut by Fox and MGM of the beloved West Side Story, which is widely considered by critics and fans to be the finest musical of all time. This exceptional honor and participation highlights the festival's important standing and respected position within the film industry.