October 16 – 19, 2025
Middleburg, Virginia

The Festival

Who We Are

Sheila C. Johnson, Founder & Board Chair. Sheila C. Johnson, a longtime resident of Middleburg, VA, wears many hats – businesswoman, sports team owner, philanthropist, and arts patron. She is committed to promoting the arts and education. She served on the board of the Sundance Institute and is former chair of Parsons The New School for Design. She has served as Executive Producer and Producer of numerous films, including LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER.

Susan Koch, Executive Director. EMMY and Peabody award-winning filmmaker Susan Koch directs, writes, and produces documentary films for worldwide distribution and broadcast. Her films have screened at major festivals throughout the world, including the Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals, and broadcast on HBO, Showtime, ABC, NBC, PBS, American Movie Classics, CNN, The Discovery Channel, MTV, and ESPN.  

Connie White, Programming Director. Connie is president of Balcony Booking, film buyer and programmer for more than 25 independent art houses around the US. She started her art house career as owner/operator of the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge MA from 1987 – 2001, where she also launched the seminal Boston Int’l Festival of Women’s Cinema. Formerly she was Artistic Director of the Provincetown Int’l Film Festival (1999 – 2016) and now serves as Programming Director for the Middleburg Film Festival. She stays abreast of all things germane to independent cinema exhibition, and above all, is a firm believer in the value of the shared theatrical experience.

Board Members

Sherrie Beckstead is a partner in Liljenquist & Beckstead and Lenkersdorfer Fine Jewelers, which has 5 locations in the DC Metropolitan areas. She is an active philanthropist.

Matt Carson, Founder of Outsider Labs, Britches Great Outdoors, & BigTeams - based in Warrenton, VA.

Beth Erickson, CEO, Visit Loudoun.

Nellie Foosaner is a Senior Attorney Adivisor at the Federal Communications Commission. She grew up in Middleburg.

Michelle Joubran is an active philanthropist, including being a member of 100WomenStrong in Loudoun County, VA and strong supporter of Elon University. 

Lauren E. Peterson is Exec. Director of The Peterson Family Foundation focusing on education, health care, social services, and the arts.

Karen Schaufeld, Co-CEO Altor Locks; CEO SWaN Hill Top; Founder of 100WomenStrong; Co-founder All Ages Read Together (AART); Trustee for Claude Moore Charitable Foundation; Chair, Claude Moore Opportunities.

Courtney Straus is Managing Director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Washington, D.C. 

Mary Streett is BP's senior vice president of U.S. Communications and External Affairs, overseeing all of the company’s communications, government relations and public affairs in the United States.

Sharon Virts is the founder of FCI Federal and Chairman of the Loudoun Economic Development Commission. The Sharon D. Virts Foundation support education, culture, health, and economic development. 

Debbie White is an active philanthropist and former teacher. The Cliff and Deborah White Family Foundation supports children and youth of low income families. 

 

 

Strategic Partners & Industry Advisors

Los Angeles Film Advisory Board

  • Albert Berger & Ron Yerxa are Academy award-nominated producers and founders of the production company Bona Fide Productions. Film credits include Nebraska , Little Miss Sunshine, Cold Mountain, and Election. 
  • Kris Bowers is an Emmy Award-winning composer and pianist. His scores include Oscar-winning Best Picture, Green Book, Dear White People, The United States vs Billie Holiday, Bridgerton, Respect, Origin, and The Color Purple.
  • Nicholas Britell is an Academy award-nominated film composer, pianist and producer.  His critically acclaimed scores are featured on Moonlight, The Big Short, and Battle of the Sexes. His music was also featured in 12 Years a Slave. 
  • Ray Costa, Founder & President, Costa Communications, a leading film music public relations firm in Hollwyood. 
  • Charles Fox has composed more than 100 scores for film and televsion. He's received 2 Emmys, a Grammy & 2 Oscar nominations and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He currently serves as a Board of Governor for the Academy's Music Branch.
  • David Gale, Former Executive Vice President of Gunpowder & Sky, overseeing the creative team. Co-founder & CEO of We Are The Mighty, a media, entertainment, and branding company focusing on the U.S. Military.  Former Exec.V. P., MTV New Media, Former Head, MTV Films.
  • John Horn, Vice President of NPR's 1A Movie Club.  Former Arts & Entertainment Host for KPCC, Former Los Angeles Times Staff Writer.
  • Helen Huang, Former Senior Director, Content Acquisitions, Showtime Networks. Programming Consultant.
  • Jon Levin, Producer, manager and agent representing numerous filmmakers and films. Former longtime CAA agent.
  • Terilyn Shropshire, ACE. Award-winning motion picture and television editor including Eve's Bayou, Love and Basketball and The Woman King. Member of the Board of Governors, Film Editors Branch, AMPAS.
  • Pam Oas Williams, Film and Television Producer (Lee Daniels' The Butler), Co-founder, Stand Up To Cancer initiative