Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’ Sets World Premiere at Camerimage Festival

Nearly three years after the tragic, accidental death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Alec Baldwin‘s Western film “Rust,” the movie’s world premiere has been scheduled to take place next month at the EnergaCamerimage international cinematography film festival in Toruń, Poland.

The screening will be followed by a panel with director Joel Souza, who was also injured in the October 2021 gun accident that took place while filming in New Mexico. The panel also includes cinematographer Bianca Cline, who completed the movie, and Stephen Lighthill, Hutchins’ AFI film school mentor. They will discuss the events surrounding the film, including completion of the movie, in addition to the on-set safety and the role of women in cinematography.

“Rust” tells the story of a 13-year-old boy who, left to fend for himself and his younger brother following their parents’ deaths in 1880s Wyoming, goes on the run with his long-estranged grandfather after he’s sentenced to hang for the accidental killing of a local rancher. “Maintaining Hutchins’ artistic vision, as tremendously challenging as it was for the entire crew, was really important to the filmmakers, hoping to fulfil their duty to complete her work. …Thanks to Cline’s skill, the cinematography remains consistent throughout the film,” the announcement from Camerimage reads.

Festival director Marek Zydowicz said of the Ukrainian cinematographer, “We knew that our event was important to her, and that she felt at home among cinematographers from all over the world, who have been gathering at Camerimage for over 30 years.” He added that during the 2021 edition of Camerimage, just weeks after the accident, “we honored Halyna’s memory with a moment of silence and a panel of cinematographers discussed safety on set. Now, once again, together with cinematographers and film enthusiasts, we will have this special opportunity to remember her.”

Hutchins was a highly regarded upcoming talent, with credits including 2020’s “Archenemy,” 2020’s “Blindfire” and 2019’s “Darlin.’” She was posthumously awarded honorary membership in the America Society of Cinematographers. Additionally, AFI established the Halyna Hutchins Memorial Scholarship Fund.

In the aftermath of Hutchins’ death, star and producer Baldwin, who was handling the prop gun at the time of the accident, was charged with manslaughter but the case was dismissed on the grounds that the prosecution had failed to turn over evidence.

Following this decision, the defense for “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who is serving an 18-month sentence for Hutchins’ death, asked for a new trial, but on Monday a judge denied the request, finding that withheld evidence would not have changed the outcome of the trial.