Every year, for ten days in November, exground filmfest is not only a magnet for film enthusiasts from near and far, but also an important discussion forum for around 250 accredited journalists, trade visitors and guests from the film industry - in other words, for important multipliers from the industry and beyond.

From the very beginning, the organizing team has focused on cinema far removed from Hollywood productions and offers a "sophisticated programme of international feature-length and short films beyond first-run cinema" (Frankfurter Rundschau, November 13, 2001), many of which are European or German premieres. Fixed components of the festival are independent US productions ("American Independents"), local arthouse films ("Made in Germany"), award winners from other festivals and other current cinema highlights in the "European Cinema" and "World Cinema" series as well as short film programs, feature-length and short film competitions and the exground youth days, the youth film festival within the framework of exground filmfest.

The festival has existed since 1990 and is organized by Wiesbadener Kinofestival e.V.