Danny McBride is receiving the sixth annual Flannery O’Connor Award at the Rome International Film Festival, which continues through Sunday, Nov. 8. The honor recognizes filmmakers whose approach to storytelling reflects the spirit of the celebrated American novelist from Milledgeville. McBride’s appearance will include a screening and a conversation about his work.
The recognition comes after McBride built a creative home in the South following a period of frustration in Los Angeles. About a decade ago, he felt creatively constrained there and missed the region where he had spent much of his life. He was born in Statesboro, grew up in Virginia and graduated from college in North Carolina.
Charleston, South Carolina, became the destination for a family move after McBride filmed the HBO comedy “Vice Principals” there and fell in love with the city. He and his wife, Gia Ruiz, relocated with their two young children. He also transferred his production company, Rough House Pictures, and went on to film four seasons of HBO’s “The Righteous Gemstones” in the Charleston area.
Flawed characters are central to McBride’s television work. His roles include the egotistical pitcher Kenny Powers in “Eastbound & Down,” an insecure vice principal in “Vice Principals” and the spoiled Jesse Gemstone in “The Righteous Gemstones.” His interest in dark humor and imperfect people also connects with his appreciation of O’Connor’s stories, which he encountered in high school.
After finishing “The Righteous Gemstones,” McBride took a year off to write his first book, “Thrilling Tales of Modern Men.” The collection contains 10 short stories and continues his focus on imperfect men. The book became a New York Times bestseller. For its audiobook, he recruited performers including Sam Rockwell, John Goodman, Eric André and Walton Goggins.
Jerusha Hess, who received the festival’s award last year, will join McBride onstage Saturday evening following a screening of two episodes of “The Righteous Gemstones.” Hess directed “Austenland” and co-wrote “Napoleon Dynamite.” A friend of McBride’s, she also helped select him for this year’s honor.
The screening and question-and-answer session are scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the DeSoto Theatre, 530 Broad St. in Rome. Admission is $25, and festival information is available at riffga.com.
