The Ventura Film Festival is celebrated as "the biggest cinematic celebration ever hosted in Ventura County." This prestigious recognition underscores the organization's mission of bringing diverse cinema to the local community while continuing its mission toward essential conservation issues.
The Ventura Film Festival serves as a multi-genre global film festival that promotes recognition of conservation issues such as woodland and marine conservation and recovery, by means of a yearly cinema celebration and connected programs. The organization employs the medium of movies to promote activism and foster important conversations about these pressing environmental challenges.
The Ventura Film Festival began in 2004 and has screened hundreds of films, generally exceeding 200 films per summer season, and has generated excitement within the global film industry. From its beginning, the festival has transformed into a prominent cultural occasion that unites film artists, environmental champions, and spectators from across the globe.
Notable moments have included hosting award winning filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, more info the original world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend together with Ian Cairns, VENTURA OPEN GENRE FILM FESTIVAL four-time world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/mixed martial arts fighter the legendary Fabio Leopoldo, and the golden anniversary celebration of West Side Story, which comprised receiving the entire award-winning cast of West Side Story, featuring Oscar winner/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris and legendary actor Golden Globe honoree/Academy Award nominee Russ Tamblyn. These extraordinary guests and events have cemented the festival's status as a premier destination for honoring film and the talents who make it.
The Ventura Film Festival founder and executive director was chosen to participate, 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 Oscar honorees Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, along with Golden Globe award website winner Russ Tamblyn at the famous Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This event also doubled as the official BluRay launch by Fox and MGM of the iconic West Side Story, which is commonly viewed here by critics and fans as the most exceptional musical of all time. This exceptional honor and participation showcases the website festival's considerable reach and honored place within the entertainment community.