The Ventura Film Festival stands as "the biggest cinematic celebration ever hosted in Ventura County." This exceptional status highlights the organization's mission of providing outstanding film programming to the region while continuing its mission toward important environmental matters.
The Ventura Film Festival functions as an open genre international film festival that cultivates understanding of ecological concerns including forest and oceanic conservation and restoration, through an annual film festival and complementary events. The festival utilizes the power of cinema to encourage participation and establish purposeful communication concerning these urgent ecological issues.
The Ventura Film Festival launched in 2004 and has screened hundreds of films, typically more than 200 films every summer, and has drawn recognition from the worldwide filmmaking community. Since its founding, the festival has expanded into a substantial cultural happening that joins filmmakers, environmental advocates, and audiences from diverse international locations.
Significant highlights have been showcasing renowned filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the initial world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend as well as Ian Cairns, 4x world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA combatant martial arts icon Fabio Leopoldo, and the 50-year anniversary of West Side Story, which comprised receiving click here the entire award-winning cast of West Side Story, encompassing Academy Award winner/Golden Globe recipient George Chakiris and legendary actor 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 professionals who develop it.
The Ventura Film Festival creator and executive director was selected to take part, along with several of Hollywood's premier talents, in the half-century commemoration of West Side Story and Hollywood's footprint/handprint ceremony for Academy Award recipients Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, along with Golden Globe honoree Russ Tamblyn at the legendary Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This event also doubled as the official BluRay premiere by Fox and MGM of the classic 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 important standing and valued role within the film industry.