The annual film festival was held in Gdansk for the first time in 1974, and later moved to the present place of Gdynia.

The festival is held every year except in 1982 and 1983 when Poland was under martial law once. The Gdynia Film Festival has many awards such as Best Film, Best Director, Best Editing, Lifetime Achievement Award, etc., to recognize people who have paid for the film.

Gdynia is also a seaside tourist attraction, with numerous yacht clubs, colorful aquariums and the Polish Film Festival held here every year, attracting tourists from all over the world. Gdynia has sailing facilities and can organize European and international sailing competitions. Therefore, the city is often known as the "Sailing Capital of Poland".