Posted by Staff Reports | Aug 17, 2026 | Floyd Events, Floyd News, Top Local News | 0 | The Rome International Film Festival (RIFF) announced today that acclaimed actor, writer, producer and Georgia native Danny McBride will serve as the official special guest for the 2026 festival, taking place Nov. 5-8, 2026. McBride, who is originally from Statesboro, Georgia, will be celebrated as the recipient of the festival’s Flannery O’Connor Award. The honor highlights a filmmaker whose work captures the raw, distinct, and darkly comedic complexities of the American South. McBride was nominated for the award by filmmaker Jerusha Hess, last year’s festival winner. In addition to receiving the award on Saturday, Nov. 7, McBride will participate in an exclusive career retrospective and a live “In Conversation” masterclass at the Historic DeSoto Theatre in downtown Rome. The programming will explore his extensive filmography, including starring roles in hit comedies like “Pineapple Express” and “Tropic Thunder,” as well as his prolific work as co-founder of Rough House Pictures. Rough House Pictures is the production company behind HBO’s most acclaimed comedies, including “The Righteous Gemstones,” “Vice Principals,” and “Eastbound & Down,” alongside the recent “Halloween” film trilogy. “Independent cinema is where the boldest stories are born, and the Rome International Film Festival gives those stories a home,” RIFF Executive Director Seth Ingram said. “Bringing a visionary Southern…
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