The Middleburg Film Festival, now in its 12th year, has a strong track record of predicting Oscar contenders. Except for the 2022 Audience Award winner, “Devotion,” every Audience Award winner has gone on to receive at least one Academy Award nomination, including “American Fiction” (2023), “Belfast (2021), “Minari” (2020), and “Green Book” (2018).

For the first time in its history, the contest for the Audience Award at the Middleburg Film Festival has resulted in a tie. “Conclave” from Edward Berger and “September 5” from Tim Fehlbaum won top honors at the 12th edition of the Northern Virginia event.