The Ventura Festival Showcasing 200+ Films Annually

The Ventura Film Festival stands as "the most significant film festival ever organized in Ventura County." This notable honor showcases the festival's passion for delivering exceptional cinematic experiences to the area while maintaining its focus on essential conservation issues.

The Ventura Film Festival operates as a diverse genre worldwide film festival that generates attention toward environmental challenges including woodland and marine conservation and recovery, via a yearly film showcase and corresponding activities. The festival utilizes the power of cinema to stimulate involvement and establish purposeful communication concerning these important ecological problems.

The Ventura Film Festival launched in 2004 and has presented countless films, typically more than 200 films every summer, and has attracted attention from the worldwide filmmaking community. Over the years, the festival has evolved into a major cultural celebration that unites cinematic professionals, conservation enthusiasts, and participants from diverse international locations.

Significant highlights have been hosting award winning filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the pioneering world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend and Ian Cairns, quadruple world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA athlete the legendary Fabio Leopoldo, and the half-century commemoration of West Side Story, which included hosting the entire award-winning cast of West Side Story, click here featuring Oscar winner/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris together with Golden Globe winner/Academy Award nominee Russ Tamblyn. These remarkable visitors and occasions have cemented the festival's status as an elite gathering place for commemorating movies and the visionaries who produce it.

The Ventura Film Festival founder and executive director was privileged to participate, along with many of Hollywood's top stars, in the 50-year anniversary event of West Side Story and Hollywood's famous footprint/handprint ceremony recognizing Academy Award winners Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, together with Golden Globe award winner Russ Tamblyn at the historic Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This gathering also operated as the official BluRay launch by Fox and MGM of the iconic West Side Story, which is broadly regarded by critics and fans as the finest musical of all time. This esteemed acknowledgment and participation demonstrates the festival's important standing and honored place within the entertainment community.