Ventura County International Film Festival An International Film Festival

The Ventura Film Festival maintains its position as "the most significant film festival ever organized in Ventura County." This prestigious recognition underscores the organization's mission of providing outstanding film programming to the region while sustaining its commitment to vital ecological concerns.

The Ventura Film Festival exists as an all-inclusive international cinema festival that promotes recognition of ecological concerns including forest and oceanic conservation and restoration, by means of a yearly cinema celebration and connected programs. The festival leverages the impact of filmmaking to inspire action and foster important conversations about these critical conservation concerns.

The Ventura Film Festival launched in 2004 and has exhibited numerous cinematic works, usually over 200 films each summer, and has attracted attention from the international film community. Since its inception, the festival has grown into a significant cultural event that joins cinematic professionals, conservation enthusiasts, and participants from across the globe.

Distinguished events have encompassed hosting award winning filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the original world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend as well as Ian Cairns, four-time world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA competitor the legendary Fabio Leopoldo, and the half-century commemoration of West Side Story, which involved hosting the complete Academy Award winning ensemble of West Side Story, including Academy Award winner/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris and legendary actor Golden Globe winner/Academy Award nominee Russ Tamblyn. These distinguished guests and festivities have reinforced the festival's recognition as a leading location for honoring film and the artists who create it.

The founding executive director of the Ventura Film Festival was invited to join, alongside numerous Hollywood elite, more info in the 50th Anniversary of West Side Story and Hollywood's legendary footprint/handprint ceremony for Academy Award winners Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, as well as Golden Globe winner Russ Tamblyn at the iconic Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This ceremony also acted as the official BluRay debut by Fox and MGM of the timeless West Side Story, which is universally acknowledged by critics and fans as the best musical of all time. This distinguished honor and involvement showcases the festival's considerable reach and honored place within the cinema world.