On Monday night at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, a woman shouted out from the back row of the sold out screening of the documentary The Wolfpack: “This is the makeout section back here, only couples!” she said.

Welcome to the first annual Documentary Film Festival, a lively experience both on and off the screen.

The Wolfpack opened the festival which continues throughout this week. The movie tells the true story of six brothers who were raised trapped within the confines of their cramped Lower East Side apartment, locked up by their father.

Director Crystal Moselle encountered the striking band of brothers on one of their rare excursions onto the streets of New York city, following a rebellion against their father. Ms. Moselle had a background in street casting, and was drawn to their unique sense of style. All the boys wore dark sunglasses and had waist length hair. Perhaps most intriguing was the fact that there were six of them.

“They immediately grabbed her attention and she asked who they were,” said the film’s producer Izabella Tzenkova. ‘They’ are the Angulo brothers, residents of Delancey street. Not even their neighbors knew they existed until recently.

Essentially imprisoned by their father and homeschooled by their mother in a 1,000 square foot apartment, the Angulo brothers sought refuge from their confinement through film. In one scene from the movie all six of the boys eat dinner in bed in front of a movie. They watched thousands of movies, and as a creative outlet built props and designed costumes to reenact their favorite scenes. Elaborate guns made out of tin foil and a batman costume made of cardboard from cereal boxes are testaments to their inventive spirits. The brothers agree that without movies, they wouldn’t have had much to live for.

Their shared passion for film helped Ms. Moselle gain access to the world of the Angulo family. She became their first houseguest, ever, Ms. Tzenkova said.

“She said, I am a filmmaker and they said, well we are interested in getting into the business of filmmaking,” said Ms. Tzenkova. “She said she would be open to showing them cameras, and that is how their relationship began.”

The Angulo brothers were involved in the filmmaking process too, and provided Ms. Moselle with invaluable home video footage that figures prominently in the film.

Mr. Angulo’s only admirable parenting move might be his having had children in numbers. The Angulo brothers are kind, thoughtful and delicate, and this is perhaps a product of the camaraderie that was always present among them. The companionship that they provided each other could also be the reason for their relatively well-developed social skills.

“What drew me into the project was how well adjusted these kids were and how charming and wonderfully curious they were,” said Ms. Tzenkova. “They are a total contrast to most people you come across.”

The release of the film has led to a change in lifestyle for the brothers. Their routine now comprises commitments outside of the house that take them to film festivals where they’ve already met a number of their idols.

“They don’t look at these people and say, oh my God, a celebrity,” said Ms. Tzenkova. “They look at them and say this is someone whose work I respect and admire.”

Documentary Week continues tonight, August 4, with The Diplomat about Richard Holbrooke, and tomorrow night with Best of Enemies about the relationship between William F. Buckley and Gore Vidal. For a complete list of movies and showtimes, visitmvfilmsociety.com.