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.