Initially under the aegis of the International Council of Cinema and Television of UNESCO, and sponsored by Montreal's Musée d'art contemporain, the 1st FIFA opened in 1981. With the 3rd FIFA in 1983, the Festival became independent and formed its own Board of Directors.

Of a duration of 5 days, the 1st FIFA presented 50 films from 12 countries in one theatre, the Cinémathèque québécoise. It is in its 21st edition (2003), that the FIFA adds 5 additional days to its calender, totalling 10 days of festivities. 

Anxious to broaden its array of subjects, the FIFA presents films on new themes: mime, circus arts, tattoos and comics, attracting more and more spectators each year.  This significant augmentation in spectators shows the growing passion of a multidisciplinary market for film with artistic themes and proves how essential film on art is to Canadian cinematrographic crossroads which Montreal represents.