The world premiere of Alec Baldwin’s Western film Rust is set to take place at the EnergaCamerimage International Cinematography Film Festival in Toruń, Poland, three years after the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on set.
Despite the accident, the movie has been completed, and the premiere will include a panel with director Joel Souza, cinematographer Bianca Cline, and Stephen Lighthill, Hutchins’ mentor from AFI film school, to discuss finishing the film, on-set safety, and the role of women in cinematography.
The film follows a 13-year-old boy in 1880s Wyoming who, after his parents’ deaths, goes on the run with his estranged grandfather when he’s sentenced to hang for accidentally killing a local rancher.
Camerimage emphasized the importance of preserving Hutchins’ vision. “We honored Halyna’s memory with a moment of silence and a panel on set safety. Now, once again, we’ll have this special opportunity to remember her with filmmakers and enthusiasts.” The festival’s director, Marek Zydowicz, said.
According to TMZ, Alec Baldwin reportedly won’t be attending the “Rust” premiere, and as for the rest of the cast -Travis Fimmel, Frances Fisher, Josh Hopkins, and Patrick Scott McDermott- it’s still unknown wether they will show up or not.
Why Was Alec Baldwin Accused of Involuntary Manslaughter?
In October 2021, Alec Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter after a tragic accident on the Rust set. During filming, Baldwin accidentally fired a prop gun loaded with live ammunition, killing Hutchins and injuring Souza.
The incident sparked an investigation into how live rounds ended up in the gun, leading to Baldwin’s charge due to his role as both actor and producer, which made him responsible for safety on set.
However, in July, the charges were dismissed after Baldwin’s defense argued that evidence had been concealed, delaying the investigation. Judge Marlowe Sommer explained that the late discovery of evidence affected the fairness of the trial.
