Lai Mohammed, Kunle Afolayan, Hilda Dokubo, Chioma Ude attend opening night

The opening night which held on October 29, 2017, at Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, was attended by Chioma Ude, Kunle Afolayan,Kemi Lala Akindoju, Wale Ojo, Uche Jombo, Linda Ejiofor, Hilda Dokubo and Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi.

Other dignitaries include filmmakers and film entrepreneurs such as Biola Alabi, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, Fred Amata, Zick Zulu Okafor, CJ Obasi, Belinda Yanga, Kenneth Uphopho, Shaibu Husseini and Ameyaw Debrah.

This year, there was a double dose of films, as the opening night selection consisted of one short film, ‘Waiting for Hassana’, an ode to the missing Chibok girls, abducted from their secondary school in 2014, directed by Ifunanya Maduka, and the Zambian entry, ‘I am not a Witch’, helmed by Rungano Nyoni.

This year's film line-up includes a host of entries from Francophone filmmakers as a fulfilment of organisers' wish last year to honour France and La Francophonie in a long-term vision of artistic collaborations and partnerships.

Representing the Governor of Lagos state, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, welcomed delegates to the centre of excellence and positioned AFRIFF as ‘’one of the leading creative platforms in Africa that has been consistent, truly awe inspiring and which has found the Lagos arty landscape compatible with its own vision.’’

Also speaking at the event, French Consul General, Lagos, Laurent Polonceaux said; “This is a great opportunity for us because this is the first time that the French government is involved with Africa. We will be having two days at the festival for French films, with possibility of co-production with Nigeria and Africa.”

He noted that it was good that the festival will be closing with the French film, ‘Felicite’, and disclosed that arrangement has been made to have about 70 film students for further training in France as an exchange programme with AFRIFF.

As is tradition, an array of movies will be screened during the festival's seven-day run as it hosts competitions in several categories including short films, feature films, documentaries, animated films, and short films made by film students.

The first edition of the film festival took place in Port Harcourt 2010, while the 2013 and 2014 editions were held in Calabar.

Lagos has hosted it three times, first in 2011 and then the last two editions in 2015 and 2016.