Middleburg is going Hollywood this weekend as the sixth annual Middleburg Film Festival will kick off on Thursday. The four-day festival has in its short history become a marquee event not only for local Northern Virginians but for the film industry as a whole, evident by the slate of films and filmmakers that will arrive in town.
“We have Oscar buzz films, we have foreign language films, we have documentaries and we have independent gems that you might not otherwise get a chance to see,” says Susan Koch, executive director for the festival. Among the 29 total films making up the schedule are much anticipated titles like Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma, which opens the festival Thursday night; Green Book starring Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali; Steve McQueen’s Widows; The Front Runner from Jason Reitman and starring Hugh Jackman; and Boy Erased, with Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Lucas Hedges and Joel Edgerton. Sheila Johnson, the festival’s founder and board chair, says she is herself excited for people to see the Melissa McCarthy film Can You Ever Forgive Me?
This year, like every year in its history, Middleburg also wants to put an emphasis on diverse filmmakers and stories. Films that represent that effort will include Capernaum, Lebanese director Nadine Labaki’s Cannes-winning film, Japanese film Shoplifters, a documentary on Maria Callas and more.
Women filmmakers and actresses are also being honored, with women receiving all four of the festival’s annual awards: Maggie Gyllenhaal, whose Kindergarten Teacher will screen as part of her tribute, is being recognized with the Leading Actress Award; Roma‘s Yalitza Aparicio is being given the Rising Star Award; singer/songwriter Diane Warren will receive the Impact Award, as well as perform a concert of her Academy Award-nominated songs; and Labaki is the recipient of the Visionary Award.
“It is important to give recognition to these extremely talented women and we’re excited to be doing that again this year,” says Koch.
Warren’s concert is also a bit of a change up from year’s past. Johnson says that in the first five years of the Middleburg Film Festival, concerts were given to highlight composers with a symphony performance. “This is a different twist and I think it’s very refreshing,” says Johnson. Middleburg will still give love to a composer this year, hosting a special event with Kris Bowers, composer of the score for Green Book.
In addition to the films, special events will be scattered throughout the weekend. These will include conversations with Edgerton and Reitman about their films; a number of Q&As held after screenings; a “Talk Back to Critics” event featuring local area film critics; and a special discussion, “Changing the World—One Film at a Time.”
The Middleburg Film Festival will run from Thursday to Sunday, Oct. 21. For information or tickets to individual screenings and events, visit middleburgfilm.org. Individual tickets start at $10.
