Founded in 1970 as platform for student short films, Molodist has assumed its present shape with festival director Andrij Khalpakhchi (since 1992), after the indepence of the Ukraine in 1991. The festival is specialised in international debut films (shorts, student and feature films) and a showcase for national Ukrainian cinema. An Ecumenical Jury was established first in 1999/2000 and since 2005 has attended the festival continuously.