Over a week’s worth of features, documentaries and short films are coming to the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center as part of the 23rd African American Film festival.

The festival begins July 31 and runs through August 9. Each day is packed with movies, panels and discussions with writers, actors and producers.

In addition to filmmakers, there will be politicians and activists in attendance, including former First Lady Michelle Obama. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a democrat from Texas, will be in conversation with Rev. Al Sharpton about the importance of finding joy in the current political climate.

The festival was founded by Stephanie and Floyd Rance, who both continue to program it each year.

Mr. Rance said they received more than 800 film submissions this year, and that deciding what to screen is a difficult process.

“You have to try to put 800 cars in 69 parking spots, which is not really possible, but it’s a labor of love,” Mr. Rance said. “We make a decision based off a lot of things, the execution, then story, the cinematography. How does it look? How does it land?”

For Ms. Rance, it was important to find space for joy.

“I personally feel like as a culture, we need to celebrate joy,” she said. “We need to focus on ourselves and focus on joy. Attitude of gratitude is what we’re doing at the festival this year.”

Ms. Rance also said she is also careful not focus on undue suffering.

“We try really hard not to show films, unless it’s relevant and important, that deal with Black pain,” she said. “We really try to focus on great films that showcase the diaspora of the Black experience from all over the world.”

The Rances first decided to create a film festival on the Vineyard after falling in love with the Island. The festival has grown tremendously in the 24 years since its founding, when it took place over a long weekend.

Ms. Rance said that over the years, it has been exciting to watch filmmakers come together and grow.

“It’s always awesome to come to the big screenings with the celebrity talent, but we also want to support these independent filmmakers who are coming from far and wide to have their films shown on a big screen.”

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