"The Debut" Wins Top Prize at Middleburg Film Festival

Jesse Eisenberg's latest directorial venture, "The Debut," took home the highest honor at the Middleburg Film Festival, held from October 15-18. The film, featuring Julianne Moore, captured the audience award at the 14th iteration of the Virginia-based festival. The best documentary feature was claimed by Ava Duvernay’s "14th", and "La Bola Negra" was awarded as the best international feature.

"The Debut", which was the opening film of this year's festival, was followed by a Q&A session with Moore and Eisenberg. Following its premiere at Telluride, the film is generating buzz as a potential best picture contender, putting Moore and co-star Paul Giamatti in potential Oscar Talks.

Several other tributes and honors were presented over the four-day festival. Léa Seydoux was awarded Outstanding Achievement in Acting for "Gentle Monster". Jordan Firstman snagged the Breakthrough Filmmaker Award with his directorial debut, “Club Kid,” which he also wrote and starred in.

Composer Daniel Pemberton was acknowledged with the Distinguished Composer Award for his contributions to “Project Hail Mary” and Danny Boyle’s “Ink.” Jack O'Connell received the Spotlight Actor Award for his role as former tabloid editor Larry Lamb in the latter. The prestigious Distinguished Makeup & Hair Design Award was awarded to "Elsinore" makeup and hair designer, Nadia Stacey.

The key behind-the-scenes team of "The Odyssey" involving costume designer Ellen Mirojnick, production designer Ruth de Jong, and editor Jennifer Lame, received the Variety Creative Collaborators award. Variety’s Jazz Tangcay led a dialogue with the artisans on Oct. 16.

Attendees cast their vote for their favored films post-screening. This year’s first runner-up was “Elsinore,” featuring Andrew Scott and Colman, and the second runner-up was “Wild Horse Nine,” starring John Malkovich.