Middleburg Film Festival announces full programme of its 14th edition: Siân Heder’s “Being Heumann” closes the four days

The Middleburg Film Festival in Virginia has unveiled the full programme of its 14th edition, which runs from 15 to 18 October 2026, as Variety reports. The closing night is reserved for “Being Heumann”, the new film by director Siân Heder — her first work after winning the Oscar for best picture with “CODA” in 2022. The Apple Original Film tells the true story of pioneer activist Judy Heumann and the historic 1977 protest for Section 504, when hundreds of disability-rights activists occupied a federal building in San Francisco.

Ruth Madeley plays Heumann, alongside Mark Ruffalo, Madeline Delp and Dylan O’Brien, while casting directors Adam Caldwell and Bernard Telsey will be honoured with the Special Achievement in Casting award and will take part in the post-screening discussion, according to AwardsWatch.

The opening night belongs to A24’s “The Debut”, written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg, with Julianne Moore as Mona Friedman — the housewife who takes a small role in a community theatre and turns into a fanatical method actress — alongside Paul Giamatti, Halle Bailey, Bernadette Peters and Havana Rose Liu. Eisenberg and Moore will be present at the post-screening discussion, writes AwardsWatch.

The festival centrepiece, on 17 October, is “I Play Rocky” by Oscar-winning director Peter Farrelly, with Anthony Ippolito as the young Sylvester Stallone, in the true story of making the legendary film “Rocky”. Jay Duplass and P.J. Byrne, who play director John G. Avildsen and producer Irwin Winkler, will join the audience for discussion. The Friday Spotlight is reserved for “La Bola Negra” by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi — the TIFF audience award winner and Netflix film with Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau, Carlos González, Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close; Guitarricadelafuente receives the International Spotlight Award and joins the composers’ panel, having written and performed the original song “La Nieve”. The Sunday Spotlight is Tony Gilroy’s “Behemoth!”, who will take part in the post-screening discussion.

The programme also includes numerous honours: Martin McDonagh (Director Spotlight, for “Wild Horse Nine”), Brad Bird (Spotlight Animation, for “Ray Gunn”), Seth Rogen (MFF Artistic Achievement), Rosalind Eleazar (Breakthrough Actor, for “Misty Green”) and Léa Seydoux (Outstanding Achievement in Acting, for “Gentle Monster”). Billie Jean King and Bill Pullman are also expected in Middleburg, while a “Toy Story 5” masterclass completes the four-day programme.