It was all smiles at the Adelaide Film Festival opening night, as dignitaries and guests walked the Pink Carpet at Goodwood’s Capri Cinema.
The event featured the Australian premiere of Wild Horse Nine, Martin McDonagh‘s dark comedy starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as two CIA operatives. Malkovich plays Chris, a prickly, terminally ill agent, alongside Rockwell as his longtime partner and friend, Lee. The incongruous setting of Easter Island gives a surreal feel to the storytelling, which unfolds almost as a series of entertaining, intertwined vignettes.
The party continued on into the wee hours down at the Queen’s Theatre with music, oysters, champagne and more.
Here’s a glimpse of the opening night’s Pink Carpet, alongside Adelaide Film Festival Creative Director Mat Kesting and AFF Chair Anton Andreaccio welcoming creatives from many of the films on show. Special guests included actor, writer and director Leah Purcell, recipient of the Don Dunstan Award and Scott Hicks, director of Shine. The AFF Jury consists of actor Tilda Cobham-Hervey, actor Xavier Samuel, director Sandeep Ray and Anna Vincent.
Emcee for the evening was Matty Mills, who welcomed Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts Kyam Maher to open the Festival. Robert Taylor performed a very warm welcoming cermeony, including some animal impersonations on the didgeridoo.
Check out the Pink Carpet action from the Adelaide Film Festival’s opening night, captured by John Goodridge.
AFF 2026 is 12 days of cinema featuring Australian and international premieres, filmmaker Q&As, special events and more.
Check out the full program and tickets on the website
