"Hamnet" and "Rental Family" Tie at Middleburg Film Festival

For the second year in a row, the Middleburg Film Festival gave a two-way ticket to success, with both the top prizes grabbed by films directed by talented women. These prestigious awards went to Chloé Zhao’s captivating roller coaster of emotions titled “Hamnet” and Hikari’s heartwarming crowd-charmer named “Rental Family.”

This Virginia-based film gala, which celebrated its 13th round this past weekend, not only salutes top-notch cinema but also has a knack for predicting Academy Award nominations. Scratch out the 2022 audience winner “Devotion,” and you'll find every top dog at Middleburg Film Festival has ended up on the Oscars' guest list. A few of the past laureates include the likes of “Conclave,” “American Fiction,” “Belfast,” “Minari,” and the beloved classic “Green Book”.

Meanwhile, the cream of the docu-crop trophy went to Orlando von Einsiedel’s “The Cycle of Love,” a romantic odyssey encompassing the life of a Delhi street artist. “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” an emotion-steeped masterpiece by Kaouther Ben Hania, swept the international feature category.

It wasn't just a movie marathon at the festival though. MFF also hosted a series of tributes and unveiled a few inaugural awards! Casting guru, Nina Gold, was recognized with the first-ever Ensemble and Casting Award for her genius behind “Jay Kelly,” and yes, “Hamnet” too. Thanks to the latter, Zhao didn't leave with just one trophy but two, also bagging the Visionary Director Award.

Edward Berger’s "Ballad of a Small Player" led Colin Farrell to the Spotlight Actor Award, while Rose Byrne's stunning performance in Mary Bronstein’s A24 release “If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You” earned her the Agnès Varda Trailblazing Film Artist Award.

Furthermore, the Variety Creative Collaborators award went to the dream team of filmmaker Jon M. Chu, cinematographer Alice Brooks, and editor Myron Kerstein.

“Our latest festival has been one of the most motivating till date,” said the MFF founder and board chair, Sheila Johnson. She expressed deep gratitude for all the filmmakers, studios, audiences, sponsors, and volunteers whose vibrant energy and unwavering support continue to make Middleburg a hot spot for film enthusiasts. So, after watching the films, audiences did their part by casting ballots for their favorite titles. From the 48 titles featured this year, there was plenty of popcorn-munching, edge-of-your-seat drama, stirring documentaries to feasts from international film menus.