"Molodist" is one of the greatest specialized cinema events in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, according to the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF).

Film Festival was established in 1970 as a two-day viewing of students’ short films of the Kiev State Theatrical Art Institute. Since then, local initiative gained international popularity: since the 1980s Ukrainians have seen the works of directors-debutants from Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia and Russia, the times of perestroika had been the era of filmmakers from the Baltic States, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Germany. The first steps in a big cinema with "Molodist" made such well ​​known directors as Fred Kelemen, Tom Tykwer, Francois Ozon, Andras Monori, Alexey Balabanov, Denis Yevstigneyev, Stephen Daldry. "Molodist" participants were later awarded with "Golden Palm" (Bruno Dumont) and "Oscar" (Alain Berliner).

Now "Molodist" is the only film festival in Ukraine, which has been ranked by FIAPF since 1991. It is a priority platform in the region for presenting the latest and the most up cine products and covers the most high-profile events of modern cinema ­– both mainstream and experimental.

The main objective of the festival is to promote young professional cinema. As forty years ago competitive program represents professional and amateur movies of debutants. The main sections – student, the first short film (fiction, animation, documentary) and the first feature film. Geography of contest entries includes countries from almost all continents. So we seek and find – and thus provide an opportunity for young talents to take their place in modern cinema.