The 11th Annual Yonkers Film Festival, also known as YoFi Fest, kicked off Friday night with its opening night red carpet reception.

The newly dubbed "Hollywood on the Hudson" will once again honor independent and local filmmakers with the return of an annual tradition.

Throughout the week, guests will be transported into the world of cinema. They will also get the chance to participate in workshops, Q&A sessions, and view roughly 125 films from 24 countries.

The event comes as Yonkers receives the title of "Hollywood on the Hudson" due to the increased presence of filmmaking in the city, including Lionsgate opening a new studio downtown. When YoFi Fest was originally launched 11 years ago, however, executive director and co-founder Dave Steck said Yonkers was not the most film-friendly city.

"Film in Yonkers was rare, and now film in Yonkers is not just common, but celebrated," he said. "I think a lot of it is because Westchester has a great audience for movies and culture."

The YoFi Fest runs until Nov. 19.

Click here for a list of schedules and tickets.