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 film-goers alike. The Ojai Film Festival launched with two goals in mind:

To provide audiences with opportunities to see groundbreaking work that would be 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 continuing and expanding the traditions created during the first two years of operation.

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.