The 12th annual Middleburg Film Festival will kick off this October, featuring the Apple Original film “Blitz,” starring Saoirse Ronan. Director Steve McQueen will be honored with the Visionary Director Award.
“Blitz,” set during World War II, follows 9-year-old George (Elliott Heffernan) as he ventures to the English countryside after his mother Rita (Ronan) sends him to safety. Defying the odds, George embarks on a perilous journey back home to East London, where Rita frantically searches for him.
The festival’s Friday Spotlight will showcase Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Perez,” starring Karla Sofía Gascón as a drug lord embracing her true identity. The Spanish-language film received a standing ovation at Cannes, winning the Jury Prize and accolades for its ensemble cast, which includes Zoe Saldaña, who will be recognized with the Spotlight Actor Award for her role as Rita.
On Saturday, Edward Berger’s “Conclave” will serve as the centerpiece screening. The film, starring Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence, explores the secretive selection process for a new Pope following the death of a beloved leader. The cast also features Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati, and Isabella Rossellini, who will receive the Agnès Varda Trailblazing Film Artist Award.
“Blitz” will be co-presented with the British Embassy, where Ambassador Karen Pierce will accept the inaugural Film Diplomacy Award, acknowledging her commitment to the film industry’s role in global understanding. The State Department’s Lee Satterfield will present the award.
Additionally, the festival will host a delegation of Kenyan and Nigerian filmmakers, including Kunle Afolayan and Bolanle Austen Peters, who will share their work and insights on the global creative economy. Individual tickets will go on sale in early October, with the complete schedule to be announced soon.
Related topic:
Do You Need to Watch Sicario 1 Before 2?
Was the Titanic Movie Filmed in a Pool?