Thomas Bena and Brian Ditchfield want to change the world. It’s a tall order but they say they are up to the task, one movie at a time.

The Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival in Chilmark is a venue for great movies, many of which might remain hidden under the barrage of big Hollywood films. These are independent films and documentaries we are speaking of, movies that Mr. Bena and Mr. Ditchfield feel can change hearts and minds, and even more important, become catalysts for action.

The annual four-day festival takes place in March. During the summer, most films are shown weekly, on Wednesdays, at the Chilmark Community Center. The movies are always events, with actors, producers or directors from the films attending the screenings to lead discussions. This year, there will also be more informal breakfasts held the next day for those who want to dig deeper into the subject matter.

The summer festival begins on Wednesday, July 1, with Most Likely to Succeed, a documentary that looks deeply into the educational system in America, in particular the emphasis on testing and rote learning. The story focuses on High Tech High in San Diego, which has taken a very different approach to teaching, and has found success in letting the students, rather than the teachers, lead.

On Sunday, July 5, the premiere of Jake Gyllenhaal’s new movie Southpaw will be shown at the Performing Arts Center, and Mr. Gyllenhaal will attend the screening to talk about the film.

In addition to movies for adults, there will be family screenings held outdoors throughout the summer at Owen Park in Vineyard Haven. Prior to these screenings there will be activities for kids at Morgan Learning Center at the Mayhew Schoolhouse, Vineyard Haven. On July 9, husband and wife team, Amy Brenneman and Brad Silberling, will help kids write, film and act out their own scenes.

Visit tmvff.org for a schedule of events this summer.