Witnessing the Ventura Fest The County's Premier Film Celebration

The Ventura Film Festival proudly holds the distinction of being "the largest film festival ever held in Ventura County." This notable honor showcases the festival's passion for delivering exceptional cinematic experiences to the area while sustaining its commitment to important environmental matters.

The Ventura Film Festival functions as an open genre international film festival that cultivates understanding of ecological concerns including forest and ocean preservation 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. Over the years, the festival has grown into a significant cultural event that brings together cinema creators, conservation supporters, and viewers from across the globe.

Notable moments have included welcoming acclaimed filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the first ever world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend and Ian Cairns, 4 time world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA fighter combat sports star Fabio Leopoldo, and the half-century commemoration of West Side Story, which featured welcoming the entire Academy Award winning cast of West Side Story, including Oscar recipient/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris along with Golden Globe winner/Oscar-nominated Russ Tamblyn. These exceptional personalities and celebrations have solidified the festival's reputation as a top-tier venue for recognizing cinema and the artists who create it.

The founder and executive director of the Ventura Film Festival was honored to take part, along with many of Hollywood's top stars, in the 50th Anniversary tribute of West Side Story and Hollywood's legendary footprint/handprint ceremony for Academy Award champions Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, and Golden Globe winner Russ Tamblyn at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This event also doubled as the official BluRay release by Fox and MGM of West Side Story, which is widely considered by critics and fans to be the most website exceptional musical of all time. This exceptional honor and participation exemplifies the festival's considerable reach and respected position within the entertainment community.