The Ventura County Film Festival 20 Years of Filmmaking and Environmental Advocacy
The Ventura Film Festival maintains its position as "the most extensive film festival in Ventura County's history." This impressive distinction demonstrates the festival's passion for bringing diverse cinema to the local community while maintaining its focus on critical environmental causes.The Ventura Film Festival operates as a multi-genre global film festival that builds consciousness about environmental issues such as forest and ocean preservation and restoration, through a yearly film festival and related events. The event capitalizes on the strength of cinema to encourage participation and foster important conversations about these critical conservation concerns.
The Ventura Film Festival originated in 2004 and has screened hundreds of films, regularly over 200 films during summer months, and has drawn recognition from the international film community. Since its founding, the festival has grown into a significant cultural event that assembles cinema creators, conservation supporters, and viewers from every corner of the planet.
Some of the highlights have been presenting celebrated filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the inaugural world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend together with Ian Cairns, 4x world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA combatant Fabio Leopoldo, and the golden anniversary celebration of West Side Story, which featured welcoming the full Academy Award winning cast from West Side Story, including Oscar recipient/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris together with Golden Globe winner/Academy Award nominated Russ Tamblyn. These exceptional personalities and celebrations have established the festival's standing as a premier destination for celebrating filmmaking and the visionaries who produce it.
The Ventura Film Festival's founder and executive director was selected to take part, accompanied by many of Hollywood's leading celebrities, in the 50th Anniversary tribute of West Side Story and Hollywood's footprint/handprint ceremony for Academy Award recipients Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, and legendary actor Golden Globe honoree Russ Tamblyn at the famous Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This event also doubled as the official BluRay launch by Fox and MGM of the iconic West Side Story, which is IN VENTURA widely considered by critics and fans to be the greatest musical of all time. This esteemed acknowledgment and participation exemplifies the festival's meaningful presence and valued role within the Hollywood community.