Georgia's Danny McBride to Receive Flannery O'Connor Award

Danny McBride, a celebrated multihyphenate from Georgia, is set to be honored at the upcoming Rome International Film Festival (RIFF) in November. The festival will present him with its 2026 Flannery O'Connor Award during its 23rd edition, running from November 5 to 8.

This prestigious award, established in memory of Savannah-born writer Flannery O'Connor, celebrates artists whose work captures the bold and enduring spirit of Southern storytelling. McBride's selection marks him as the sixth recipient and the first Georgia-born filmmaker to receive this honor.

McBride, known for his work with HBO and films like Pineapple Express, consistently draws on the culture of the American South. His recent book, Thrilling Tales of Modern Men, debuted on The New York Times Best Seller list, and he is also writing the next G.I. Joe movie.

During his time at RIFF, McBride will engage in a career retrospective and a live masterclass. Festival Executive Creative Director Seth Ingram praised McBride's ability to shape cultural conversations about the South, noting his work's humor, provocation, and humanity, akin to Flannery O'Connor's own.

McBride himself shared that his Southern upbringing profoundly influenced his storytelling. Receiving an award connected to Flannery O'Connor's legacy is incredibly meaningful to him.