If a long weekend of 20-plus films and other cinematic events all within walking distance of each other sounds like your cup of performing arts' tea, you probably thoroughly enjoyed the Middleburg Film Festival.

The inaugural event attracted more than 2,500 movie fans and the likes of actor Bruce Dern (star of "Nebraska," which opened the festival) and producer Michael Shamberg ("Pulp Fiction" and "Erin Brockovich," to name two), who teamed up with Vanity Fair journalist Maureen Orth for a "Wine and Conversation" event.

Middleburg Film Festival (MFF) owes its inception to connections in the wider world. MFF founder Sheila C. Johnson serves on the board of the Sundance Institute, an internationally recognized non-profit founded in 1981 by Robert Redford to advance the work of independent storytellers in film and theatre. Several years ago, after purchasing the property for her Salamander Resort, Johnson invited Redford to visit. His comment that Middleburg would be a great setting for a film festival took root and became reality.

Patterned after the Sundance, Middleburg's festival included 20 films, ranging from drama to comedy to documentaries. "Special screenings" included "Journey To Italy" (1954) with Ingrid Bergman, Lee Daniels' "The Butler" starring Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, and "The Gettysburg Story" as well as special events, such as panels, wine tastings, music, etc. Venues included the National Sporting Library, Hill School, Middleburg Community Center, Boxwood Winery, and Salamander Resort & Spa, the official festival venue.

"It was really a lot of fun," said Joan Ramsay, longtime Middleburg resident. "My husband Robert and I are great fans of good movies, primarily independent films. We saw nine films in three and a half days – that wasn't easy! We had never done that before. We ran into the festival director Susan Koch many times – she is delightful."

The Ramsays usually attend indies at the E Street Cinema in Washington, DC. "We go there because they have movies nobody else gets," Ramsay explained. "That's how all this came about – the film festival brought all these movies to Middleburg. We weren't going to see Muscle Shoals – but it was great. Before we saw that movie, I didn't know where all those great rhythm & blues singers were coming from."

At the completion of the Festival, Johnson announced the winners of the Audience Awards for Best Documentary Feature and Best Narrative Feature. "I am so pleased that our audience chose to recognize "Comedy Warriors: Healing Through Humor" and "Philomena," " Johnson said. "We had so many compelling titles I know it was difficult to choose a 'best' among this incredible fare."

"Philomena" stars Dame Judi Dench ("M" in the Bond movies and star of "The Queen"). Stephen Frears directed the screenplay, based on the BBC investigative book "The Lost Child of Philomena Lee" about a mother forced to give up for adoption her son, conceived out of wedlock more than 50 years previously. "Philomena" balances its dramatic storyline with great humor, indomitable spirit and joy. Dame Dench studied Lee in order to "get" her – and she does, to the point that critics on both sides of the big puddle are touting Dench for an Oscar nomination.

"We really enjoyed "Philomena" and it won the people's choice although I felt there were others that were also deserving," admitted Ramsay. "I thought that "The Butterfly's Dream" was charming, very romantic and the actors (from Turkey) were there, which was really fun. We enjoyed "Nebraska" and "Tim's Vermeer" was excellent, and "Le Weekend" was a lot of fun."

Many locals were pleased to see Middleburg so alive and active with all its visitors. "Everyone was so nice, and the volunteers with the Festival were wonderful," Ramsay said. "The weather was good, sometimes gorgeous. The doors to the shops were open. It was so festive. I'm so fond of this little village and watching good movies in a place as beautiful as Middleburg made the festival. I thought it was much better than Cannes where the traffic is huge and people are so pushy. The Middleburg Film Festival was relaxed and delightful."

Plans are already underway for next year. "Middleburg played host to a tremendous weekend of storytelling, and people like the Ramsays are what a film festival is all about," said Susan Koch, MFF Executive Director. "Festivals provide an opportunity to bring the best in film to a community for everyone to enjoy. We're so gratified by the tremendous response. Many people pitched in and volunteered their time and services to make this happen. We couldn't have had such a successful festival without the support of the Middleburg community."

Mark your calendars for Oct. 30 - Nov. 2, 2014.