Actor and comedian Denis Leary, radio host Ira Glass and director Bobcat Goldthwait (known in the 1980s for his high-pitched comedy routines and his roll in the Police Academy movies), will be in Somerville this weekend for the 10th annual Independent Film Festival Boston.

Though it carries the Boston name, the film festival, which takes place from April 25 to May 2, is mainly a Somerville affair. 

The festival's main organizers all come from Somerville, and two-thirds of the films are shown at Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, according to Adam Roffman, program director of the festival. (The Brattle Theatre and Coolidge Corner Theatre are other venues.)

Roffman, who lives in Somerville, organizes the festival with fellow Somerville residents Brian Tamm, Nancy Campbell, Christine Harbaugh, Dan McCallum and Judy Wong, he said.

About 14,000 people will come to the festival, Roffman said, and around 60 to 70 filmmakers will also attend to participate in post-screening discussions with the audience.

Roffman listed some of this year's festival highlights:

Burn

This documentary, produced by Denis Leary and Jim Serpico, from "Rescue Me," follows firefighters in Detroit, a crumbling city with high arson rates and a tired infrastructure. Leary, Serpico and the film's directors will attend the screening, which is on Friday at 7:15 p.m. at Somerville Theatre.

Knuckleball

Knuckelball is about the pitch and the few pitchers who throw it. The documentary follows Tim Wakefield in his final season as a Red Sox pitcher, as he approaches his 200th win. It also follows New York Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey, the only other active knuckelballer in Major League Baseball, whom Wakefield mentored. The film screens at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Somerville Theatre.

Andrew Bird: Fever Year

A documentary about master whistler Andrew Bird's 2009 tour. Screens 7:45 p.m. on Thursday at Somerville Theatre.

Under African Skies

About Paul Simon's trip to South Africa, 25 years after the release of his seminal album, Graceland, to reunite with artists who collaborated on the album. Screens Sunday at 8 p.m. at Somerville Theatre.

Beware of Mr. Baker

About biographical documentary about Ginger Baker, the drummer from Cream and Blind Faith. It screens Monday, April 30, at 9:15 p.m. at Somerville Theatre.

Ira Glass

The radio host, best known for his work on This American Life, co-wrote "Sleepwalk with Me," about a struggling comedian who starts to make audiences laugh by telling personal stories about those closest to him. Glass will participate in a discussion after the film, hosted by WBUR's Meghna Chakrabarti. Screens Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Somerville Theatre.

Bobcat Goldthwait, "God Bless America"

Goldthwait, a comedian and film director, will attend a screening of his film, "God Bless American," about a man who's fed up with the influence of reality television and political talk shows, and who, when he learns he has a brain tumor, decides to do something about it. Screens Saturday at 10:15 p.m. at Somerville Theatre.

Parties and tickets

In addition to screenings and visits from filmmakers, there will be a number of parties held in Somerville. You can find more information and get tickets at iffboston.org.