As someone who has been in attendance at the Middleburg Film Festival since its inception in 2013, it's hard to believe that it has been that long. What started as a small community event tucked away in the autumn-baked horse country of northern Virginia has quickly grown into an established fixture of the independent film circuit, boasting exceptional films and appearances by some of Hollywood's most esteemed talent.

Personally, my favorite part of the festival isn't the films themselves, the Q&As, or the promise of meeting one of your favorite actors, but rather the sensation of getting to know the people next to you. Conversations had while standing in line or waiting in your seat for the movie to start have truly colored my perception of what other people get out of the festival. If you're one of those who happened to stand in line next to me, thank you for indulging me. You make the film community what it is.

Given that it is the tenth anniversary of the festival, I thought a fun way to look back and honor the films that have graced the screens here in Middleburg would be to draw up a list of the festival's finest. Over the previous ten years, there have been so many truly great entries that you could probably write a top ten that would be completely different from mine! With that said, I would like to clarify that these aren't necessarily the "best" films of the festival (since there's no definitive way to declare the "best" of any field in an opinion piece), but rather my own personal favorites that have stood out over time. And with the sheer volume of films to draw from, there simply had to be an honorable mentions category for the greats that almost made it.

Honorable Mentions: Land of Mine (2016), La La Land (2016), Music Got Me Here (2017), Darkest Hour (2017), Lady Bird (2017), Cold War (2018), The Favourite (2018), The Irishman (2019), Sound of Metal (2020), Concrete Cowboy (2020)

10. Two Days, One Night (2014) - A throwback to the very early days of the festival, Two Days, One Night holds up proudly over time as an example of how effective simplistic storytelling can be. Marion Cotillard shines as a tired commoner of the workforce desperately fighting for her job, who ends up finding her self-worth. While some may find the plot structure repetitive, I think that the repetition reveals the film's strength: depicting how one person's plight can elicit such varied reactions from her peers, showcasing humanity's capacity for callousness, but also true empathy and compassion.

9. Free Solo (2018) - This one-of-a-kind documentary sprouted up in the film festival schedule after the year's festivities had already gotten underway, and I showed up to take a chance on it. I'm glad that I did, because what I walked away with was an undeniably odd, confounding, and bizarrely inspiring true story. The story's subject is free solo climbing (the act of rock-climbing without any protective gear), and more specifically, one climber's ambition to scale the world's most intimidating wall of granite. The film already knows the question on your lips—"What would compel someone to do this willingly?"—and the answers will elevate your senses and surely widen your perspective.

8. Ford v. Ferrari (2019) - You know how I know this movie is good? I don't know the first thing about cars, much less racing history, and I had a ball with it. You know how I know it's great? I liked it even more the second time. This movie has "winning combo" written all over it, from the chemistry of Christian Bale and Matt Damon, to the directing talent of James Mangold, to some incredible camera work. But all of that simply exists in service of telling a story, and the story in question is a remarkably fast-paced and entertaining ride for just about everyone.

7. Jojo Rabbit (2019) - Making a satirical comedy set in Nazi Germany is a bold move, to say the least. So many moments that landed could have otherwise soured in lesser creative hands. So what's this movie's secret? The answer is that while it is very funny, especially in the first arc, its true heart lies in the theme of how prejudices are learned, and more importantly, how they can be broken. The cast is aces across the board, the camera work is subtle on an expert level, and most importantly, the story has a big heart that makes it an enthusiastic recommendation.

6. Lion (2016) - After considerable thought, the only thing I can find "wrong" with Lion is that the book was better and had more insight. And that doesn't necessarily count as a slight towards the film, which is a medium where it's inherently harder to convey detail. Even with that said, Lion is sure to be a heart-claiming watch for just about anyone. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more consistently moving tale of family, endurance, and personal triumph, and that's not even touching the performances. Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman naturally soar, but credit needs to be given to child actor Sunny Pawar for carrying this film's first act.

5. Manchester by the Sea (2016) - Wow. This one might actually be one of the saddest movies I've ever seen. I'm honestly not sure how strong of an endorsement that is, but you have to see this one at least once. The majority of the cast is undoubtedly strong, but it's Casey Affleck who staggers through the aching story in a positively heartbreaking performance. Dappled in dreary colors that reflect the film's tone, this one is a great rainy day watch for when you need something strong to scratch that "sad movie" itch.

4. Marriage Story (2019) - Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson excel in this most memorable drama about a couple fighting to keep their family together through a divorce. Every emotion is felt, and every perspective is understood as we sift through the cumbersome process with them. This is one of those well-balanced scripts where if you find yourself picking a side, then you're only watching half the movie. Neither party is a victim, but nobody is completely wrong, either, as it so often goes in real world conflicts.

3. Parasite (2019) - When was the last time you saw an entirely original idea, unburdened by the nuisance of trailers, theories, or online speculation? It's probably been a while, hasn't it? Now, think of the last time you saw a film so finely tuned that every detail, from the plot, themes, performances, editing, and sound clicked together seamlessly. For me, Parasite was an exceptional overlap of those two rare phenomena, a haunting and discomforting triumph of original filmmaking that boils over with instantly iconic imagery and festers in the mind long after you've left it.

2. Spotlight (2015) & The Report (2019) - I might be cheating by including two films in a tied spot here, but here's my explanation: both of these movies tell important stories that can be difficult to take in but are absolutely necessary to know about, hard-won by countless hours of investigative reporting. Both productions boast credible actors giving strong performances, but neither feature theatrical, over-the-top displays of Oscar-reaching. This is greatly to their benefit, as it allows the acting to reflect the writing: straight, honest reporting that speaks for itself. At the end, both of these stories are solemn reminders of why we need journalism.

1. Paterson (2016) - After multiple viewings since watching it at the festival, Paterson has the wholly unique distinction of being (very possibly) my favorite movie. Featuring a warm and engaging turn by Adam Driver, I can't help but admire how brazenly Paterson flies in the face of the highest rule of fictional writing: conflict creates character, and no story can exist without conflict. Tell that one to writer/director Jim Jarmusch, who crafts a charming and relaxing tale about finding the beauty in the mundane that not only succeeds, but thrives on its lack of tension or drama. Paterson is a content and friendly everyman for the ages, and his story is one for all of us.