The theme “Enriching the Human Spirit through Film” continues to guide the Ojai Film Festival. At a time when people’s spirits need uplifting more than ever before the global pandemic makes it unsafe to invite film lovers to come together in a physical space. To give their audience a necessary boost the Ojai Film Festival (OFF) plans to go virtual this year, November 6 through 15.
This year’s OFF consists of 77 films, selected from 302 entries from 42 countries. A series of 12 Gold Coast films celebrates southern California filmmakers.
Film blocks will screen for the first six days of the Festival, November 6 through 11. Viewers may purchase individual blocks for $10, or a Festival pass for the six days for $50. The other four days, November 12-15, festival films are available as Video on Demand.
Guaranteed access to 25 programs of your choice! Choose between our programming blocks, special events, and a la carte shorts and features (a $250 value). The festival pass (25 “clicks”) is valid only Nov. 6-11.
Individual Video on Demand tickets to single Festival Films are available: Feature Films for $5, short films for $3.
Pass added to your Eventive account (no physical pass)
A la carte purchase for programming blocks, special events, and individual films available soon.
On October 14, the Ojai Unified School Board approved an Agreement with the Ventura County Library to operate a joint-use library on the campus of the Meiners Oaks Elementary School. The Agreement will now go to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors for approval.
With an anticipated opening in late 2021 or 2022, a new library location is being planned for Meiners Oaks Library, currently at 114 North Padre Juan in Ojai.
The new, larger, library will be furnished and equipped to meet the 21st century needs of students and Meiners Oaks community members. The Ventura County Library operates two other public/school joint-use library branches in Piru and Oak Park. “It’s always wonderful to see two local governments collaborate to better serve the public, says Supervisor Steve Bennet. “This partnership will be great for students, the community, and taxpayers and bring a large modern library to Meiners Oaks.” Ventura County Library has plans to provide library services in the existing library’s location in Meiners Oaks until construction of the new building is complete.
It will feature two rooms, one each for children and adults, which can be separated. Plans call for it to be open and staffed for public access 24 hours per week and the school and public will enjoy access to the Library’s vast collection, including both print and electronic resources.
It will also feature a new student computer lab along with 15 hours of staffed homework help per week. The Library’s broadband connection to the CENIC high-speed network via CalREN will be moved to the new site.
All of the library’s vast array of programs for students, youth, and families, including STEAM activities and the very popular Summer Reading program that helps students retain reading skills during the months when school is not in session, will be conveniently available from the new location at the school campus.
The Ojai Film Festival (OFF) will honor former American Society of Cinematographer’s (ASC) President Steven Poster with the 2020 Distinguished Artist Award for Cinematography at a virtual ceremony on Thursday, November 12 at 7 pm.
On Saturday, November 7 at 1 pm, OFF invites anyone interested in cinematography to join Poster for a discussion of what it takes to achieve his cinematic vision. Poster will share highlights of his career and delve into his methods of achieving special images and effects. This seminar includes clips of selected works, and a live Zoom Q&A will follow.
“I’m very excited the Ojai Film Festival considered me for this honor,” Poster said. “Being recognized for my body of work is the highest kind of praise for an artist.”
Poster has worked on the feature films “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “Blade Runner,” as Second Unit Director of Photography. In 1989 he shot the iconic music video to Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.” Many people know Poster by his seminal work on Ridley Scott’s “Someone to Watch Over Me” and Richard Kelly’s “Donnie Darko.”
He currently lives in Los Angeles.
