‘Everyone Has The Right To Feel Safe’: Adelaide Film Festival Condemns Alleged Homophobic Attack

A patron who attended Adelaide Film Festival’s celebration of queer cinema suffered broken bones in an alleged homophobic attack while making his way home, according to the festival’s chief executive.

Adelaide Film Festival and Feast Festival have condemned the violence in a joint statement, expressing solidarity with the injured man and Adelaide’s LGBTQIA+ community.

Adelaide police are also calling for assistance from the community.

Film festival condemns alleged homophobic attack

Police said they were called to North Terrace and Bank Street in Adelaide’s CBD about 3.50am on Sunday, October 18, following reports that a group of men had assaulted a man they did not know.

The alleged assault happened several hours after the festival’s Saturday Night Party screening of Jim Queen. Organisers said some patrons had continued their evening at other venues before one was attacked while waiting for transport home.

Speaking to ABC News, Adelaide Film Festival chief executive Mat Kesting said the festival learned of the incident in the days afterwards.

“It was … reported to us in the days following that someone that had attended that event had been verbally abused with homophobic abuse and attacked on his way home,” he said.

“My understanding is that it started with verbal abuse and then the attack has proceeded to be physical.

“The person concerned then incurred quite serious injuries including broken bones and was hospitalised for a day or more.”

Kesting told the ABC he understood the man had since left hospital and was recovering. He said privacy considerations limited what he could share.

The festivals have described the incident as an apparent homophobic attack based on the reported abuse. The police statement did not identify a motive.

Festivals speak out

In their joint statement, published online on Friday, October 23, Adelaide Film Festival and Feast Festival described their distress at the alleged assault following an evening intended to celebrate queer pride and community.

“Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) and Feast Festival are deeply distressed by a violent incident involving a member of our community on Saturday evening,” they said.

“Following AFF’s Saturday Night Party screening of Jim Queen, presented with Feast Festival as a celebration of queer pride and community, a number of patrons continued their evening elsewhere in the city. One patron was subsequently attacked while waiting for transport home. The reported nature of the abuse indicates the incident appears to be a homophobic attack. The patron was hospitalised as a result.”

The organisations said safety and respect should be fundamental to life in Adelaide.

“We are devastated that in Adelaide, in 2026, a member of the LGBTQIA+ community has been subjected to violence of this kind. AFF and Feast Festival unequivocally condemn homophobia, violence and discrimination in all its forms. Everyone has the right to feel safe and respected in our city.”

Their statement also reflected on the purpose of festivals as places where people can connect, encounter different experiences and feel a sense of belonging.

“Film and festivals have an important role to play in building empathy, understanding and connection. They create spaces where we can encounter different lives and experiences, celebrate our diversity and recognise what we share. Respect, inclusion and belonging are fundamental to both AFF and Feast Festival and to the communities we bring together.”

The festivals shared support and advocacy resources alongside their message, including information about the South Australian Rainbow Advocacy Alliance.

“We stand with the person who was attacked, with Adelaide’s LGBTQIA+ community, and against homophobic violence and indeed violence of any kind.”

State ministers condemn the violence

The alleged attack also drew condemnation from South Australian government ministers.

Responding to the festival’s social media post, Attorney General Kyam Maher said: “There’s no place for homophobic abuse in our state, and it should be utterly condemned when it occurs.”

Emergency Services Minister Rhiannon Pearce described the assault as “absolutely appalling”, the ABC reported.

“We are a society that is welcoming to all. Everybody has the right to feel safe out in the community and this behaviour is absolutely unacceptable,” she said.

Kesting said the screening itself had been a warmly received celebration of gay pride. He told the ABC the festival was committed to standing with its patron.

“The fact that this has occurred in the CBD of Adelaide in 2026 is outrageous,” he said.

Police appeal for information

Investigators are working to identify those responsible, in a statement provided to The Star Observer, they said:

“Police were called to North Terrace and Bank Street, Adelaide, about 3.50am on Sunday 18 October following reports a man had been assaulted by a group of men not known to him.

“The victim sustained injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.”

“Investigations to identify those responsible are ongoing.”

“Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or call 1800 333 000 anonymously.”