Blitz, Nickel Boys, Sing Sing Actors

The 2024 Middleburg Film Festival in Virginia will open with Apple’s Blitz (with writer-director Steve McQueen on hand to collect the fest’s Visionary Director Award), close with Amazon/MGM’s Nickel Boys (with writer-director — and Fairfax native and Georgetown University alum — RaMell Ross in attendance to receive the Special Achievement in Filmmaking Award) and feature Searchlight’s Nightbitch as its Saturday Spotlight (with writer-director Marielle Heller present for a post-screening conversation), the fest announced Thursday.

The fest will also welcome — and present special honors to — a host of other top talent who are in awards contention. Among them: The Piano Lesson supporting actress Danielle Deadwyler (Breakthrough Actor Award), Maria cinematographer Ed Lachman (Lifetime Achievement Award for Cinematography), Sing Sing lead actor Colman Domingo and supporting actor Clarence Maclin (Impact Award), Unstoppable lead actor Jharrel Jerome (Rising Star Award) and Emilia Pérez composers and songwriters Camille Dalmais and Clément Ducol (Special Achievement in Music Award).

Additionally, the fest will honor the Oscar-winning composer Mychael Danna (Life of Pi) with its Distinguished Composer Award, accompanied by a concert featuring a selection of Danna’s scores performed by a 60-piece orchestra and choir led by music director and conductor Kim Kluge.

“We’re delighted to showcase such a diverse slate of fantastic films and extraordinary talent — and share with our filmgoers the tremendous craft, creativity and dedication that goes into the art of filmmaking,” MFF executive director Susan Koch said in a statement.

Added MFF founder and board chair Sheila Johnson, the co-founder of BET, “We’re looking forward to welcoming so many incredible filmmakers and artists to Middleburg for our 12th year for what’s shaping up to be one of our most exciting and ambitious lineups to date.”

MFF’s 12th edition will run Oct. 17-20.