More than 40 years ago in Kyiv appeared two-day festival of films, shot by students of Kyiv State Institute of Theatrical Arts, which presented only 33 movies. Back then hardly anybody would have thought that a young green sprout would grow and strengthen every year and become a week-long celebration of global impact.

Now "Molodist" is among the 12 best film festivals in the world, as rated by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). Every autumn maestros of world cinema, prominent directors and actors gladly come to Kyiv, during the festival in the movie theaters about 300 films are shown! However, something about the festival remains unchanged - as before it opens new names and achievements in the field of cinematography to the world.

"Molodist" is a specialized festival aimed to support films of  young directors. That’s why we are looking thoroughly for works of talented youth on film festivals. And this wok is done not only in Ukraine, but also all over the world. We process hundreds of applications and spend our time for a hundreds hours of videos. Festival’s competition program consists of sections of student films, first short film (fiction film, animation, documentary) and first full-length fiction film. Election Committee also follows the life of the competitors after their graduation. 

The geography of "Molodist" expands each year – since 80-s ukrainians have been acquainting with films of directors – debutants from Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia and Russia, the times of perestroika became the era of filmmakers from the Baltic states, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Germany. In 1993 festival gained the status of international in accordance with the standards of FIAPF. Today more and more films from Western Europe take part in competition, the participants from Arab countries also join in. 

Many directors, famous nowadays, have taken their first steps into the world of big cinema with the help of "Molodist":  Fred Kelemen, Tom Tykwer, Francois Ozon, Andras Monori, Alexei Balabanov, Denis Yevstygneyev, Stephen Daldry. Some of the participants later were awarded with "Palme d'Or" (Bruno Dumont) and "Oscar" (Alain Berliner). Non-competition program of the festival traditionally welcomes viewers with retrospectives of the most prominent film schools and leading masters of world cinema and with programs of newest Ukrainian and foreign films.

This year's "Molodist" again dispels clouds from dim October sky to rally in orange coloured autumn capital those who create cinema and those who enjoy it with all their soul.