The Ventura Festival Featuring Hundreds of Films Each Year

The Ventura Film Festival has earned recognition as "the grandest film festival ever to take place in Ventura County." This impressive distinction demonstrates the event's devotion to showcasing international filmmaking to Ventura County while preserving its dedication to vital ecological concerns.

The Ventura Film Festival operates as an unrestricted genre international film festival that generates attention toward environmental issues such as forest and oceanic conservation and restoration, through an annual film festival and complementary events. The event harnesses the influence of film to stimulate involvement and create meaningful dialogue around these critical conservation concerns.

The Ventura Film Festival launched in 2004 and has showcased numerous films, generally exceeding 200 films per summer season, and has captured notice from the global film industry. Since its inception, the festival has grown into a significant cultural event that unites movie directors, ecological activists, and attendees from around the world.

Some of the highlights have been hosting award winning filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the initial world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend and Ian Cairns, 4 time world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA fighter the celebrated Fabio Leopoldo, and the half-century commemoration here of West Side Story, which featured welcoming the entire Academy Award winning cast of West Side Story, featuring Academy Award honoree/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris along with Golden Globe winner/Academy Award nominee Russ Tamblyn. These outstanding figures and gatherings have solidified the festival's reputation as a leading location for celebrating filmmaking 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 Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, along with Golden Globe recipient Russ Tamblyn at the historic Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This occasion also served 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 greatest musical of all time. This distinguished honor and involvement demonstrates the festival's meaningful presence and honored place within the entertainment industry.