The Middleburg Film Festival has a new closing night anchor, and it comes with a documentary focus. The Virginia festival announced Thursday that Siân Heder’s Being Heumann will serve as the Closing Film for the 14th Middleburg Film Festival, running Oct. 15-18. Netflix’s La Bola Negra is set as the Friday Spotlight, and Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth! has been set as the Sunday Spotlight.
The lineup also includes a Masterclass with Toy Story 5 production designer Bob Pauley, conversations with Give Me the Ball! subject Billie Jean King and Everybody Digs Bill Evans star Bill Pullman, and the annual Songwriters & Composers Panel.
The Closing Night Choice
Being Heumann is directed by Siân Heder. The film documents the life of Judy Heumann, a lifelong disability rights activist.
The film’s casting directors, Adam Caldwell and Bernard Telsey, will attend the screening to receive the Special Achievement in Casting Award. They will also participate in a post-screening Q&A.
The Friday Spotlight
Netflix’s La Bola Negra lands the Friday Spotlight slot. The film stars Guitarricadelafuente, who will accept the International Spotlight Award for his performance in the film and his original song “La Nieve.”
He will also participate in the Composers & Songwriters panel.
The Sunday Spotlight
Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth! gets the Sunday Spotlight, with Gilroy himself on hand for a post-screening discussion.
Awards and Honorees
Several filmmakers and actors are receiving awards at this year’s festival. Martin McDonagh, writer-director of Wild Horse Nine, takes the Director Spotlight Award. Brad Bird, director of Ray Gunn, receives the Spotlight Animation Award.
Seth Rogen picks up the MFF Artistic Achievement Award for The Invite and Tangles. Rosalind Eleazar receives the Breakthrough Actor Award for her role in Misty Green.
The Special Achievement in Casting Award recognizes Caldwell and Telsey for their work on Being Heumann.
Panels and Masterclasses
The 14th edition of the festival includes the annual Songwriters & Composers Panel, featuring artists involved in the spotlight films. The Masterclass with Bob Pauley offers a look behind the scenes of Pixar’s latest production.
Conversations with Billie Jean King and Bill Pullman round out the public program.
What This Lineup Says
The spotlight slots are telling. La Bola Negra represents the streaming era, with Netflix positioning the film as a Friday anchor. Behemoth! gives the festival a chance to engage directly with a filmmaker, while Being Heumann closes with a documentary.
The lineup rewards both established talent and emerging voices. McDonagh, Bird and Rogen bring their careers to the spotlight, while Eleazar and Pauley represent the next generation.
The festival has built its identity around strong narrative filmmaking. This year’s lineup continues that tradition while adding documentaries, animation and behind-the-scenes panels.
The result is a festival that feels current without sacrificing depth.
The Masterclass with Pauley is a particularly strong addition. It offers festival-goers a rare look at the creative process behind Pixar’s upcoming release.
The conversations with King and Pullman bring real-world stories to the screen. Both subjects have significant fan bases.
The Songwriters & Composers Panel is a practical session for anyone interested in the music side of cinema.
| Event | Date | Film/Work | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closing Film | Oct. 18 | Being Heumann | Judy Heumann documentary |
| Friday Spotlight | Oct. 15 | La Bola Negra | Netflix release, Guitarricadelafuente performance |
| Sunday Spotlight | Oct. 17 | Behemoth! | Post-screening discussion with Gilroy |
| Masterclass | No date given | Toy Story 5 | Production design with Bob Pauley |
The festival has delivered a clear statement about what it values. It is a festival that respects the craft of filmmaking, the work of the people behind the scenes, and the stories of the people who shape our world.
Source material: “Middleburg Film Fest Will Spotlight ‘La Bola Negra’ & ‘Behemoth!’, Closing With ‘Being Heumann’,” Deadline.
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