Adelaide Film Festival Condemns Homophobic Attack on Patron

A disturbing incident in Adelaide's CBD last weekend has been condemned by the Adelaide Film Festival as a homophobic attack on one of its patrons. The assault occurred after a screening of the film Jim Queen, leaving a man with serious injuries, including broken bones, and hospitalised for over a day.

Incident Details

The Adelaide Film Festival has described the incident as a "homophobic attack" on one of its patrons, which occurred after movie-goers had left the event last Saturday night. The man was assaulted while waiting for transport home, and the "reported nature of the abuse indicates the incident appears to be a homophobic attack".

Police confirmed they responded to reports of an assault on a man by a group of people he didn't know about 3:50am last Sunday, around North Terrace and Bank Street in the CBD. They said the man was taken to hospital for treatment and that "investigations to identify those responsible are ongoing".

Condemnation and Support

Adelaide Film Festival CEO Mat Kesting said the incident was disturbing and unacceptable.

"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 festival has condemned the incident and says it is standing with its patron. In a joint statement with the Feast Festival, the Adelaide Film Festival said it had been left "deeply distressed" and "devastated" by the attack, adding that it "unequivocally" condemns discrimination "in all its forms".

Government Response

SA Attorney-General Kyam Maher commented on the incident, saying:

"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".

"It's really distressing to hear that that's occurred," she said.

"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."

Community Reaction

Arts worker Margaret Fischer, who is the director of Feast Queer Youth Drop In, said homophobia was still common.

"It's shocking because it happens," she said.

"Allies are fantastic. I believe that there were a couple of people who came to his aid, so that's really good."

Mr Kesting said he was limited in what he could say for privacy reasons but said the assault had occurred several hours after the screening of the film.

"The Adelaide Film Festival presented the South Australian premiere of a film called Jim Queen and it was an extraordinary celebration of gay pride, the audience had a wonderful time, it was very well received," he said.

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

"We stand opposed to any violence in the community, but certainly homophobic attacks like this, so that's why we've made this statement."