Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey will be honored with the Variety Legend & Groundbreaker Award at this year’s Filmland 2026. The award recognizes influential artists who have broken down barriers in the industry and whose careers have withstood the test of time. Set to be held Friday, August 14 in Little Rock, Arkansas, McConaughey will also be screening his upcoming film “The Rivals of Amziah King” followed by a Q&A with acclaimed filmmaker and Filmland co-founder Jeff Nichols.

Read the full press release below…

LITTLE ROCK, AK (June 15, 2026) – Variety will honor Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey with the Variety Legend & Groundbreaker Award at Filmland on Friday, August 14 in Little Rock, Arkansas. The award recognizes artists who have broken barriers in the industry and withstood the test of time. McConaughey will accept the honor for his career achievements, including his upcoming role in Andrew Patterson’s The Rivals of Amziah King.
 
McConaughey will participate in a Q&A with Arkansas Cinema Society co-founder Jeff Nichols – best known as the director of Mud and The Bikeriders – following a screening of The Rivals of Amziah King.
 
McConaughey has been a force in the industry since his breakout role in Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confusedback in 1993. He has continued to gain critical acclaim over the years and earned both an Academy Award and Golden Globe for his leading role in Dallas Buyers Club. Additionally, he has appeared in films such as Mud, Interstellar, The Lost Bus, and for his transformative performance in season one of True Detective, McConaughey earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. 
 
“For multiple decades, Matthew McConaughey has been making an impact in the entertainment industry, bringing his signature charm and skill to each and every role he takes,” said Variety director of features Emily Longeretta. “His role in this year’s The Rivals of Amziah King is just the latest example of a transformative, beautiful performance. We couldn’t be more honored to celebrate him at Filmland.”
 
“The Arkansas Cinema Society is elated to welcome Matthew McConaughey back to Arkansas and to Filmland this August to receive the Variety Legend & Groundbreaker Award,” said Filmland executive director Kathryn Tucker. “After his unforgettable collaboration with ACS co-founder Jeff Nichols on Mud, this truly feels like a homecoming. We’re grateful to our partners at Variety, and we’re honored to continue what has become an annual Filmland tradition of celebrating legendary and groundbreaking filmmakers. The onstage conversation between Matthew and Jeff will undoubtedly be one not to be missed by our enthusiastic audience of film lovers in Arkansas.” 

Filmland runs from August 12-16, 2026, at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. Since 2018, the festival has hosted award-winning filmmakers like actors Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Will Forte, Ted Danson, David Arquette and ACS board member Mary Steenburgen along with directors including Chloé Zhao, Richard Linklater, David Lowery, Neil LaBute, David Gordon Green and Jeff Nichols; and producers such as Evan Hayes, Jayme Lemons, Christina McLarty Arquette, Fred Berger and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones. 
 
Filmland has showcased award-winning films such as The Bikeriders, Nomadland, The Eyes of Tammy Faye and Free Solo from top festivals like Sundance, Telluride, Toronto and Venice before they had a theatrical release in Arkansas. Each screening features a Q+A moderated by Writer/director and ACS Co-founder Jeff Nichols, board members, or staff, and every night wraps with a party for filmmakers and attendees. Filmland also features selections from Filmland: Arkansas and the short film created each year by our Filmmaking Lab for Teen Girls.
 
Tickets are limited, and they will go fast. Sponsors get the very first access on June 23, members on June 25, and general public on Friday, June 26. Becoming a sponsor or member is the surest way to land your seat before they’re gone.

Stay tuned for more information on the big night as well as announcements for other great screenings and appearances to be included in Filmland 2026.