Jesse Eisenberg’s ‘The Debut’ Named as Opening Night Film at Middleburg Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)

Jesse Eisenberg‘s “The Debut” will open the Middleburg Film Festival. A Q&A will follow with the film’s star Julianne Moore and Eisenberg.

“The Debut” follows Moore as Mona Friedman, a housewife who lands a small role in a community theater production and transforms into a zealous method actor willing to do anything to protect the artistic integrity of her part.

The centerpiece film of the festival is “I Play Rocky,” directed by Peter Farrelly. Inspired by the true story behind the making of the 1976 film “Rocky,” Farrelly’s take stars Anthony Ippolito as Sylvester Stallone as he struggles to get his screenplay made while refusing to let go of his dream of playing the role himself. Jay Duplass and PJ Byrne will also be in attendance from the film.

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Léa Seydoux, Jordan Firstman, Daniel Pemberton, Jack O’Connell, Nadia Stacey are among the festival’s honorees.

Seydoux will receive the Outstanding Achievement in Acting Award for her performance in “Gentle Monster.” Jordan Firstman will be recognized with the Breakthrough Filmmaker Award for his feature directorial debut “Club Kid,” which he wrote, directed and stars in. Composer Daniel Pemberton will receive the Distinguished Composer Award recognizing his work on “Project Hail Mary” and “Ink.” Jack O’Connell will receive the Spotlight Actor Award for his performance in “Ink.”

Olivia Colman will attend the festival representing both “Elsinore” and “Wicker.” The Oscar-winning actress will participate in Q&As for both films. “Elsinore’s” makeup and hair designer Stacey will be presented with the festival’s Distinguished Makeup & Hair Design Award.

As previously announced, “The Odyssey” artisans — costume designer Ellen Mirojnick, production designer Ruth de Jong and editor Jennifer Lame — are set to receive the Variety Creative Collaborators award.

The conversation will be moderated by Variety’s senior artisans editor, Jazz Tangcay, on Oct. 16. The talk will look at their collaboration and serve as a career retrospective.

The festival is set to run Oct. 15-18.

At the festival, Tangcay and Variety’s chief awards editor, Clayton Davis will also host their annual Coffee and Contenders conversation on the state of the awards race.