The results of the collective effort - so called film product - are evaluated and put under competition since the first beginnings of the cinematography. Besides the various film reviews, presentations, retrospectives and numerous joint Screenings, the film festivals appear as a competition on the whole kinesthetic expression, since the first half of 20th century. Later, as time passes by, they develop - namely, they separately specialize into various, but single distinctions per festival - by the gender, kind, genre or else (feature, documentary, animated film festivals; film editing or film camera festivals; criminal, history, fantasy film festivals; professional & amateur or alternative film festivals; etc.). Also, festivals evolve into the market presentation and competition of values, so in some way the distinctive festivals become manifestations of a world rank. The single presentation of any film at this prestige festivals present additional bonus to that film's values and attractiveness, as well to its further placement at the film market.

Republic of Macedonia, as a federative unit of Former Yugoslavia, in the area of the cinematography, starts with the offering of its film works at the federal film screenings and reviews. Before all - at the oldest Film Festival in Firmer Yugoslavia - Pula Film Festival. In 1958, Pula Film Festival evolves into the "Yugoslavian Film Festival", at which, since 1959, feature and documentary films are screened in front of the two separate Juries. Since 1960, the evaluation of the "short-length film" goes on in Belgrade, where the "Yugoslavian Documentary and Short-length Film Festival" was established. At this festival reviews (in Pula and Belgrade), in its multi-decade development, the Macedonian cinematography would make noticeable results in different categories. At this manifestations, a numerous and eminent film critics and theoreticians take part, as a film selectors for other film festivals, so the numerous Macedonian films get an opportunity for participation and competition at the international festivals through the world (Oberhausen, Venice, Moscow, Edinburgh, Avelino, Anesi, etc.).

In the frames of Former Yugoslavia, specialized festivals were established, festivals that were evaluating different genders of the film (World Animated Film Festival in Zagreb, since 1972), and also the separate segments of the film creation (Artistic Achievement Film Festival - "Film encounters" in Nish since 1966, then the Film Scenario Festival in Vrnjachka Banja (since 1977), Film Scenography, Film Costumography and Film Music Festival, in Mladenovac, Film Directing Festival in Herceg Novi, and many others; finnaly, there is the Film Camera Festival "Manaki Brothers" in Bitola, since 1979.

In 1998, the second film festival in Macedonia was established - the "Skopje Film Festival".