Ventura Film Festival Presenting International Movies to The Central Coast

The Ventura Film Festival has earned recognition as "the grandest film festival ever to take place in Ventura County." This remarkable achievement reflects the organization's dedication to presenting varied film content to regional audiences while maintaining its focus on significant environmental challenges.

The Ventura Film Festival is established 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 create meaningful dialogue around 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 viewers from around the world.

Some of the highlights have been hosting award winning 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 Fabio Leopoldo, and the 50-year anniversary of West Side Story, which encompassed presenting the complete Oscar-winning ensemble of West Side Story, featuring Academy Award honoree/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris together with Golden Globe winner/Academy Award nominee Russ Tamblyn. These exceptional personalities and celebrations have solidified the festival's reputation as a leading location 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 Oscar honorees Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, and legendary actor Golden Globe award winner Russ Tamblyn at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This ceremony also acted as the official BluRay introduction by Fox and MGM of the iconic West Side Story, which is universally acknowledged by critics and fans as the ultimate musical here of all time. This esteemed acknowledgment and participation showcases the festival's significant influence and valued role within the film industry.