‘Being Heumann’ to Close Middleburg Film Festival; Martin McDonagh and Seth Rogen Join 2026 Honorees

The Virginia-based film festival, which will run from October 15 - 18, also announced "La Bola Negra" and "Behemoth!" as Spotlight screenings.

The Middleburg Film Festival announced on Thursday that “Being Heumann,” Oscar winner Siân Heder’s follow-up to Best Picture winner “CODA,” will close its 14th edition, running October 15 – 18. The Apple Original Film, which tells the true story of pioneering disability rights activist Judy Heumann and the historic 1977 Section 504 protest, stars Ruth Madeley as Heumann, alongside Mark Ruffalo, Madeline Delp, and Dylan O’Brien. The film’s casting directors, Adam Caldwell and Bernard Telsey, will attend the Festival to receive the Special Achievement in Casting Award and participate in a post-screening Q&A.

Additionally, both TIFF People’s Choice Award winner “La Bola Negra” and NYFF Centerpiece “Behemoth!” will receive Spotlight screenings. The former, a Netflix title that earned Spanish filmmakers Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi a Best Director prize at Cannes, will have breakout star Guitarricadelafuente in attendance to accept the International Spotlight Award and participate in a post-screening discussion. As the songwriter and performer of “La Nieve,” a Best Original Song contender from the Best International Feature frontrunner, Guitarricadelafuente will join Middleburg’s annual Composers & Songwriters panel. The latter film will have writer/director Tony Gilroy in attendance for a post-screening conversation.

Fellow Searchlight Pictures film “Wild Horse Nine” will screen at the festival, with its helmer Martin McDonagh receiving the Director Spotlight Award. Additional Middleburg 2026 honorees include “Ray Gunn” filmmaker Brad Bird receiving the Spotlight Animation Award, “The Invite” and “Tangles” star Seth Rogen receiving the MFF Artistic Achievement Award, and “Misty Green” star Rosalind Eleazar receiving the Breakthrough Actor Award.

The aforementioned Composers & Songwriters panel will also include Ari Balouzian (“Primetime,” “You Can See Everything”), Lesley Barber (“Gail”), Jesse Eisenberg (“The Debut”), Lukas Frank (“Behemoth!”), Christopher Spelman (“Paper Tiger”), Diane Warren (“Maserati: The Brothers”), and Daniel Pemberton (“Ink,” “Project Hail Mary”), who will be receiving the festival’s Distinguished Composer Award.

“Toy Story 5” production designer Bob Pauley will be on hand at the festival to participate in a special Masterclass that will include a drawing demo. Middleburg Film Festival Founder and Board Chair Sheila Johnson will also host tennis icon Billie Jean King, the subject of Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff’s documentary “Give Me the Ball!,” for a post-screening Q&A.

In addition to previously announced screenings like festival opener “The Debut,” centerpiece film “I Play Rocky,” and more, MFF advisory board members Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa are bringing the film “Everybody Digs Bill Evans,” which they executive produced, to Middleburg, with its star Bill Pullman there in support of their film.

Individual tickets are now on sale, and the schedule and full slate are live on the Festival’s website and mobile app.