Ventura Fest World-Class Movies in The Central Coast

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 providing outstanding film programming to the region while sustaining its commitment to important environmental matters.

The Ventura Film Festival operates as an open genre international film festival that generates attention toward environmental issues such as terrestrial and aquatic preservation and renewal, via an annual film festival and associated activities. The event capitalizes on the strength of cinema to motivate engagement and develop substantial discourse on these important ecological problems.

The Ventura Film Festival originated in 2004 and has displayed hundreds of movies, regularly over 200 films during summer months, and has attracted attention from the international film community. From its beginning, the festival has developed into an important cultural gathering that connects film artists, environmental champions, and spectators from throughout the world.

Memorable occasions have featured presenting celebrated filmmaker Dylan O'Neil, the inaugural world champion surfers Peter "PT" Townend along with Ian Cairns, four-time world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA competitor here combat sports star Fabio Leopoldo, and the half-century commemoration 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 along 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 honoring film and the visionaries who produce it.

The Ventura Film Festival founder and executive director was chosen to participate, together with many of Hollywood's biggest stars, in the 50-year anniversary event of West Side Story and Hollywood's footprint/handprint ceremony for Oscar winners Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, along with Golden Globe honoree Russ Tamblyn at the iconic Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This celebration also functioned as the official BluRay launch by Fox and MGM of the timeless West Side Story, which is broadly regarded by critics and fans as the greatest musical of all time. This prestigious recognition and participation highlights the festival's meaningful presence and esteemed status within the entertainment community.