The Ventura Film Festival is celebrated as "the largest film festival ever held in Ventura County." This exceptional status highlights the organization's dedication to delivering exceptional cinematic experiences to the area while continuing its mission toward significant environmental challenges.
The Ventura Film Festival exists as an all-inclusive international cinema festival that raises awareness for conservation issues such as woodland and marine conservation and recovery, via a yearly film showcase and corresponding activities. The organization employs the medium of movies to promote activism and foster important conversations about these critical conservation concerns.
The Ventura Film Festival was founded in 2004 and has showcased numerous films, generally exceeding 200 films per summer season, and has captured notice from the global film industry. Over the years, the festival has grown into a significant cultural event that brings together cinema creators, conservation supporters, and FILM FEST viewers from across the globe.
Notable moments have included hosting award winning filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the first ever world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend as well as Ian Cairns, 4x world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA combatant the celebrated Fabio Leopoldo, and the 50th Anniversary tribute to West Side Story, which included hosting the complete Academy Award winning ensemble of West Side Story, encompassing Academy Award winner/Golden Globe recipient George Chakiris and Golden Globe honoree/Academy Award nominee Russ Tamblyn. These remarkable visitors and occasions have cemented the festival's status as a premier destination for commemorating movies and the talents who make it.
The Ventura Film Festival's founder and executive director was invited to join, accompanied by many of Hollywood's leading celebrities, in the 50th Anniversary of West Side Story and Hollywood's prestigious footprint/handprint ceremony honoring Academy Award recipients Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, together with Golden Globe champion Russ Tamblyn at the legendary Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This gathering also operated as the official BluRay introduction by Fox and MGM of the beloved West Side Story, which is generally recognized by critics and fans as the finest musical of all time. This esteemed acknowledgment and participation demonstrates the festival's important standing and valued role within the film industry.