In 1998 Steve Grumette, artist and filmmaker, received an invitation to judge at the Canyonlands Film Festival in Moab, Utah. With a comparable population and boasting both a vibrant arts community and a spectacular natural environment, Moab appeared similar to Ojai in many ways. On his return from Utah, it occurred to Steve that if Moab supported a thriving film festival, why not Ojai? From that idea, came the inception of the Ojai Film Festival.
On November 15, 2000, nearly two years of intensive effort by more than a hundred volunteers culminated in the opening of the first Ojai Film Festival to an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response from filmmakers and filmgoers alike. The Ojai Film Festival launched with two goals in mind:
To provide audiences with opportunities to see groundbreaking work otherwise inaccessible.
To provide filmmakers with an enthusiastic audience including film industry professionals.
In early 2002, the festival established itself as an independent nonprofit foundation, dedicated to expanding the traditions created during the first two years of operation. Now in its twenty-second year, the festival continues its commitment to enriching the human spirit by seeking out important films that in some way uplift people, help audiences feel good about being members of the human race or encourage them to live meaningful lives inspired by the examples of others. Over the past few years, the Ojai Film Festival has expanded its creative platform with Focus Earth, a mini-festival of films and panels that focus on environmental issues presented by local filmmakers and community experts, and a screenwriting competition. The Festival has developed a full-day education program for regional high school students that regularly sees more than 200 students come to Ojai for one day of seminars and film screenings.
The Ojai Film Festival showcases the special character and spirit of Ojai, with its rich history from the Chumash Indians to famous gurus. For many years, spiritual teachers and Hollywood celebrities have felt drawn to the beauty of Ojai, making the Ojai Film Festival a perfect setting for bringing filmmakers together to celebrate their talents and inspire creativity.
The Festival provides audiences a diverse lineup of titles from around the world. Past entries have represented over 43 countries. The Ojai Film Festival gives filmmakers access to a highly appreciative audience of savvy film fans. That the Ojai Film Society’s Program Director, Steve Grumette, continues to receive invitations to serve as a juror at other festivals reflects the growing importance on the Ojai Festival. This recognition of Ojai’s festival is reflected in the fact that legendary Hollywood producer Peter Guber told the audience at a recent Toronto International Film Festival that “Ojai is the next Telluride.”
The allure of the beautiful mountains of the Ojai valley, just a short drive from Los Angeles, draws high profile visitors who enjoy its quiet seclusion and artistic environment. The Festival is understood to be a leading regional event and an unparalleled educational program having gained recognition among an audience drawn from throughout Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties.
