Siân Heder's 'Being Heumann' to Close Middleburg Film Festival

Oscar winner Siân Heder's "Being Heumann," her follow-up to Best Picture winner "CODA," will close the 14th Middleburg Film Festival, running October 15–18, the festival announced Thursday.

The Apple Original Film tells the true story of disability rights activist Judy Heumann and the historic 1977 Section 504 protest. Ruth Madeley stars as Heumann, alongside Mark Ruffalo, Madeline Delp and Dylan O'Brien. Casting directors Adam Caldwell and Bernard Telsey will attend to receive the Special Achievement in Casting Award and take part in a post-screening Q&A.

Two other titles will receive Spotlight screenings. "La Bola Negra," the TIFF People's Choice Award winner from Netflix, earned Spanish filmmakers Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi a Best Director prize at Cannes. Breakout star Guitarricadelafuente will attend to accept the International Spotlight Award and join 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 also join Middleburg's annual Composers & Songwriters panel. The second Spotlight title, NYFF Centerpiece "Behemoth!," will bring writer-director Tony Gilroy to Middleburg for a post-screening conversation.

Martin McDonagh will receive the Director Spotlight Award for his Searchlight Pictures film "Wild Horse Nine," which screens at the festival. Additional 2026 honorees include "Ray Gunn" filmmaker Brad Bird (Spotlight Animation Award), "The Invite" and "Tangles" star Seth Rogen (MFF Artistic Achievement Award), and "Misty Green" star Rosalind Eleazar (Breakthrough Actor Award).

The Composers & Songwriters panel has drawn a full roster: 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 receive the festival's Distinguished Composer Award.

"Toy Story 5" production designer Bob Pauley will lead a special Masterclass featuring a drawing demo. 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.

Beyond the previously announced screenings — including festival opener "The Debut" and centerpiece film "I Play Rocky" — advisory board members Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa will bring "Everybody Digs Bill Evans," which they executive produced, with star Bill Pullman attending in support.

Individual tickets are now on sale, with the full schedule and slate live on the festival's website and mobile app. With Heder's activist drama as its closing statement, Middleburg positions itself as a late-season stop for titles chasing awards momentum.