Disturbing Incident at Sunny Bunny Film Festival
On the evening of April 20, 2024, a disruptive event unfolded at the Zhovten Cinema in Kyiv’s Podil district. During a screening of the international short film competition at the Sunny Bunny festival, an unidentified man—who had purchased a ticket for the show—poured a liquid with a strong odor inside the theater before quickly fleeing the premises.
Police responded promptly to the incident and identified the offender as a 24-year-old local resident. Officers from the Podil police precinct filed an administrative report against him under Article 173 of the Ukrainian Code of Administrative Offenses (petty hooliganism). Penalties under this article may include:
- a fine,
- community service or corrective labor,
- administrative detention for up to fifteen days.
'During the screening of the international short film competition at the Zhovten Cinema, an unfortunate incident occurred. An unknown man, who had a purchased ticket for the session, spilled a strong-smelling liquid in the hall and then quickly left the building.'
- Festival organizers
They added, 'Unfortunately, homophobes continue to find new ways to express hatred and contempt for the principles of equality and mutual respect that our festival is built on.'
Despite the disruption, organizers decided to hold a repeat screening the following day, April 21. The fourth edition of the LGBTQIA+ film festival Sunny Bunny is running in the capital through April 24. It is worth noting that last year’s third edition of the queer film festival saw clashes between police and protesters outside the Zhovten Cinema. Similarly, in 2023, organizers of the Queer Propaganda Fest, announced by the NGO KyivPride for November 23–24, were forced to relocate the event under public pressure.
Challenges Facing the LGBTQIA+ Community
This incident at the Sunny Bunny film festival highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community in Ukraine, including acts of homophobia and resistance. Despite such unpleasant situations, festival organizers have shown resilience by continuing to hold screenings and uphold principles of equality. This underscores the importance of cultural initiatives that raise awareness about human rights and social justice in society.
This incident at the Sunny Bunny Film Festival highlights ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ events in Ukraine. For a deeper understanding of similar disturbances and their implications, you can read more about another recent occurrence where a liquid was spilled in the hall during a festival screening.