The aim of the FEST - Belgrad IFF is to promote and develop understanding of film art, showing the best movies of world production. FEST is a non-competitive festival, recognised by FIAPF.

The first FEST, under the slogan “A Brave New World” was opened on the 9th of January 1971 in Dom Sindikata, with the screening of Robert Altman’s Mash. Envisioned as the annual review of the best films of the season, the Belgrade International Film Festival - FEST – evolved to become one of the most important festivals on the continent and a pillar event of Belgrade's cultural life and an indispensable element in the coming of age of many generations of film amateurs.