Ever since its inception in 2013, I've attended every Middleburg Film Festival. In that time, I've watched the festival grow from northern Virginia's hidden secret, to one of the must-see stops on the awards circuit. This year, however, many aspects of our lives, including the yearly film festivals, have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. But that didn't stop festival founder Sheila Johnson and director Susan Koch from giving us a show.

As opposed to the typical format of attending in-person screenings, Q&As, and other events at various venues throughout the town of Middleburg, this year's selections were mostly virtual, with a few in-person showings. Those that were in-person were presented on a drive-in screen on the grand lawn of the Salamander Resort & Spa. Clearly, I wasn't the only one looking forward to this year's movies, as the Salamander screenings sold out within a day of the schedule's announcement.

I spent my weekend virtually, streaming films comfortably at home from the film festival's website. My weekend's entertainment consisted of four very good films (reviews of which will be coming soon), an interview with Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, and a concert by Green Book composer Kris Bowers. The greatest inconvenience that I encountered was that each film was only available for a 24-hour period, meaning that there were some that I was unable to view due to my own work schedule.

The true essence of the Middleburg Film Festival isn't found in the movies. It's found in the experience of meeting new people, and surrounding yourself with friendly faces who view film as an art form. And even if we couldn't have that experience due to uncontrollable circumstances, I must give credit to Sheila Johnson, Susan Koch, and the entire festival team for allowing the show to go on. Here's to hopefully seeing you all in person next year.