The late Benjamin Filipović, film director, professor at the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo and president of the Association of Filmmakers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, provided the inspiration for the first film festival.

In 2003, the first edition of the BHFF was held at the Two Boots Pioneer Theatre (the opening screening was the multiple award-winning film Remake directed by Dino Mustafić and written by Zlatko Topčić).

In 2018, the festival takes place in two theaters SVA Theatre as the main and Anthology Film Archives as the adjunct venue.

They have also passed a difficult and rigorous selection process which to date includes a pool of some 400 film titles entered for BHFF screening consideration.

Members of the BHFF Jury are accomplished and recognized members from Bosnian and American cultural, film and art community who have significantly contributed to the Bosnian-Herzegovinian film industry and culture in general.