Ventura Film Festival facts for kids
The Ventura Film Festival is an exciting international film festival held every year in Ventura, California. This festival showcases amazing films, including some that have won Oscars! Many famous actors and filmmakers who have won Oscars have also attended the festival.
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What is the Ventura Film Festival?
The Ventura Film Festival is a special event where people can watch many different kinds of movies. It's a chance for filmmakers to show their work and for movie lovers to see new and classic films. The festival brings together people from all over the world to celebrate the art of filmmaking.
A Special Event: West Side Story's 50th Anniversary
In 2011, the Ventura Film Festival hosted a very special celebration. It was the 50th anniversary of the famous movie West Side Story. The festival was thrilled to welcome the entire cast of the film!
Honoring Movie Stars
During this event, two talented actors from West Side Story received special lifetime achievement awards. These awards honor people who have had a long and successful career in movies.
- George Chakiris received an award. He won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his role as Bernardo in West Side Story.
- Russ Tamblyn also received an award. He was nominated for an Oscar and won a Golden Globe for playing Riff, another main character in the film.
The 50th Anniversary screening of West Side Story was the opening night film for the 2011 Ventura Film Festival.
Hollywood Celebration
After the Ventura event, another special screening of West Side Story took place at the famous Chinese Theater in Hollywood. At this event, some of the stars, including Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, and Russ Tamblyn, took part in a special "Footprint/Hands in the Cement" ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard. This is where famous people place their hands and feet in wet cement, leaving a permanent mark for fans to see. Many well-known Hollywood stars attended this exciting event.
