When in Rome
Sunday, Nov. 8 — Happy Sunday, and Happy Diwali to all who celebrate! Associate Editor Sammie Purcell here, fresh off a Saturday spent up in Rome for the Rome International Film Festival.
📽️ RIFF has become an annual tradition for me. Between its charming, historic downtown and the plethora of work from local filmmakers, Rome has a real hometown vibe. Each year, I’ve interviewed the winner of the festival’s Flannery O’Connor Award for Storytelling, which is always exciting. This year’s honoree is Danny McBride – be on the lookout for my interview with him this week, and please subscribe to Scene by Rough Draft, my weekly entertainment newsletter.
☀️ Sunny with a high of 68° today.
LOCAL NEWS
🇪🇸 The Atlanta Falcons play the Cincinnati Bengals at Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, today at 9:30 a.m. (92.9 FM; NFL Network/ANF).
🚶 The fourth annual Westside Stride takes over a car-free stretch of Howell Mill Road between 8th and 17th streets today, with live music, a pop-up artist market, food, and a petting zoo.
🐕 Downtown Atlanta’s Woodruff Park now features a 6,500-square-foot outdoor off-leash dog park with small and large dog sections.
🏈 In local college football action yesterday:
- No. 2 Georgia 42, No. 10 Ole Miss 7
- Louisville 44, Georgia Tech 17
- Kennesaw State 42, Delaware 40
- Mercer 14, Chattanooga 7 (OT)
- Georgia State 39, Appalachian State 23
- Georgia Southern 49, Marshall 13
- Central Arkansas 35, West Georgia 14
- Kentucky State 34, Morehouse 10
- Albany State 49, Fort Valley State 0
- Clark Atlanta was off
⚽ Atlanta United closed a forgettable 2026 season with a Decision Day loss to the Red Bulls. Around the MLS: Nashville SC set a league record with 77 points, and Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi became the first back-to-back Golden Boot winner.
ELSEWHERE
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia said its air defenses intercepted a barrage of Houthi missiles and a drone early today. Falling shrapnel damaged a building, but no injuries were reported.
🎙️ President Donald Trump offered the White House press secretary post to UFC CEO Dana White yesterday. The job has been vacant since Katie Zacharia left in October after five days.
🇵🇱 Poland declared two days of national mourning after a gunman with far-right views killed six people in Krakow’s Main Market Square on Saturday.
🇮🇱 Israel’s president tapped opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot to form a coalition government following last month’s elections.
🎁 Invasion: Christmas Carol combines the heart of the beloved classic Dickensian tale with the outrageously unpredictable joy of improv live onstage at Dad’s Garage starting Fri., Nov. 27. Reserve tickets now for an unforgettably twisted holiday experience! SPONSOR MESSAGE
2023 Flannery O’Connor Award Winner: Ethan Hawke
📖 In honor of the Rome International Film Festival, we’re throwing it back to 2023, the first year that I attended and also the year I interviewed Ethan Hawke.
Hawke and his daughter, Maya Hawke, won the Flannery O’Connor Award that year, and Hawke was there promoting his film “Wildcat,” which tells the story of O’Connor’s struggle to publish her first novel, “Wise Blood.” A little behind the scenes for you: Ethan Hawke is one of my favorite actors, and probably one of my favorite artists point blank. I have a deep, parasocial relation to the “Before” trilogy, and I think there are, like, at least seven performances for which he should have won an Oscar already (“First Reformed,” “Blue Moon,” “Boyhood,” “Sinister” – and I mean that last one!).
Needless to say, I was incredibly nervous to talk to him (thanks to my colleague, Julie Bloemeke, for being the very best co-interviewer to ever exist). But he, as expected, was a great hang. The picture above, taken during our interview, has always tickled me – I look like a girl in love! Quite literally, swooning!
🌅 You can read our interview with Hawke here.
FREE family caregiving kit from AARP
SPONSORED BY AARP GEORGIA
❤️ There are more than 48 million caregivers in the nation; 2.5 million are here in Georgia. These caregivers help older parents, spouses, and loved ones live independently at home – where they want to be. They manage medications, finances, and daily needs, often without enough recognition or support.
AARP is fighting for solutions that save Georgia’s caregivers time and money, providing resources like our Family Caregiving Kit, which includes a resource guide, a free AARP jar opener, and information tailored for caregivers.
🍿 This week in Scene, we launched a new weekly feature where you can test your film history knowledge. When Scene comes out on Fridays, I’ll be coming through your inbox with a brand new cinema trivia question. You’ll make your guess, and I’ll reveal the answer in next week’s edition of Scene. Since we’re launching this week, here’s a sneak peek for all you Sunday readers. If you want more, make sure you subscribe to Scene. Click through the survey below to play!
🍻 And, if movie trivia is something you’d be interested in doing in person – maybe at a bar, with friends, and beers – make sure you let us know.
Your next chapter could be in Habersham
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PONDCREST AT HABERSHAM
🏡 Just outside historic Beaufort, South Carolina, the coastal town of Habersham offers a different vision of Lowcountry living.
Designed by DPZ around walkable streets, welcoming porches, parks, waterfront access, and a lively town center marketplace, Habersham has earned NAHB recognition for Best Neighborhood Design.
→ Now, a new chapter is taking shape with Pondcrest, the first neighborhood in Habersham’s latest expansion. For those considering a move south, a home on the coast, or simply a different pace of life, this is an ideal time to discover Habersham.
🥃 Sip, savor, and celebrate ATL’s culinary scene at Atlanta Hawks Forkside Seats! Join us Sept. 28 at State Farm Arena featuring Chef G. Garvin, ATL’s hottest new restaurants, VIP perks, and giving back to food service workers in crisis. Learn more. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Peter Berg, Tom Francis, and Ray Nicholson on bringing ‘The Mosquito Bowl’ to life
🏈 We’re smack dab in the middle of football season, and it’s almost Thanksgiving – so why not talk about the most “you should watch this with your dad on Thanksgiving” movie to ever exist?
“The Mosquito Bowl,” directed by Peter Berg and based on a book by Buzz Bissinger, follows four American football players who enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps to fight in World War II after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. While preparing to fight in the Battle of Okinawa, the players participate in a football game, nicknamed the Mosquito Bowl, that took place on Christmas Eve on Guadalcanal.
The movie is streaming on Netflix, and I recently got the chance to speak with Berg and actors Tom Francis and Ray Nicholson about making “The Mosquito Bowl” as immersive as possible.
🪖 Check out our conversation here!
🍽️ Three chefs. Multiple local farms. One roof. Our 3rd annual Slow Food Atlanta Snail Trail Dinner tomorrow, Mon., Nov. 9 brings them together for an unforgettable multi-course meal. Seats are limited, grab yours now. SPONSOR MESSAGE
🔤 Play News Word Atlanta, our daily word game.
🍴Connect with fellow Rough Draft readers at our monthly Dinner Club. The next one is Nov. 17!
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