The Ventura Film Festival is an open genre international film festival that raises
awareness for environmental issues such as forest and ocean preservation and restoration,
through a yearly film festival and related events.


The Ventura Film Festival is “the largest film festival ever in Ventura County.”

The Ventura Film Festival was founded in 2004 by Jordan Older and has screened hundreds of
films, usually over 200 films each summer, and has attracted attention from the
international film community. Some of the highlights have been hosting award winning
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 Fabio Leopoldo, and the 50th
Anniversary of West Side Story, which included hosting the entire Academy Award winning
cast of West Side Story, including Academy Award winner/Golden Globe winner George Chakiris
and Golden Globe winner/Academy Award nominee Russ Tamblyn.

Jordan Older, the Ventura Film Festival founder and executive director, was selected to
take part, along with many of Hollywood’s top stars, in the 50th Anniversary of West Side
Story and Hollywood’s footprint/handprint ceremony for Academy Award winners 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 best musical of all time.

academy award winners george chakiris rita moreno golden globe winner russ tamblyn
handprint west side story in hollywood nov 15 2011

The Ventura Film Festival is unique. Not only does the Ventura Film Festival raise
awareness for important environmental issues, it also raises money that is donated directly
to select non-profit environmental organizations. So far, the Ventura Film Festival has
supported the Surfrider Foundation and Save the Redwoods League as well as donating money
to the Ventura County Library. Even more, the Ventura Film Festival is a 100% volunteer
based organization without ever having a single employee or full time staff-member. Along
with an all-star volunteer advisory panel, thousands of volunteers have signed up to
produce the largest film festival ever in Ventura County.

The Ventura Film Festival is located in Ventura, California, USA which is situated just 60
miles from Hollywood on the Southern California coastline. The Ventura area boasts near
perfect weather and one of the best sunsets in the world. Ventura and the surrounding area
has miles of uncrowded sandy beaches that include some of the most famous surf spots in the
world such as the Rincon Point and Ventura County Line. Within a short drive can be found
other popular tourist destinations such as Los Angeles, Malibu, and Santa Barbara.

Filmmakers and writers from more than 25 countries have participated in the Ventura Film
Festival which screens films in all genres including features, shorts, documentaries,
animations, music, and surf films. The Ventura Film Festival also has a screenplay and
teleplay competition. Film and screenplay submissions are accepted year-round and are free
of charge.