The objective of the World Film Festival of Bangkok is to introduce quality, non-mainstream films from all over the world. It aims to become a showcase for various films and new work from rising talents to cinema masters to show the continuity from generation to generation as a vital component in the development of the film industry.

More than 80 international films are screened at the festival each year, featuring works from the European Union Film Festival, Latin America, Asia and Southeast Asia and included short films, experimental films, documentaries and animation productions – which are considered a new focus of the industry. 

Nation Group, a media company based in Thailand, organised the first Bangkok Film Festival in the country in 1998. Various international films were screened to promote cinematic art and film appreciation in Thailand.

Since 2003, the World Film Festival of Bangkok has been held annually in October with Mr Kriengsak Victor Silakong as the festival director. After the 2017 edition, the festival has stopped for 5 years. The festival returns in 2022 for its 15th edition. Film producer and film festival programmer Donsaron Kovitvanitcha has been appointed to be new festival director.