The western film Rust, starring Alec Baldwin, is set to make its world premiere at the Camerimage Festival in Poland this November, three years after the fatal on-set shooting that claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The tragic incident occurred in October 2021 when Baldwin fired a prop gun during production, leading to Hutchins’ death and sparking ongoing legal battles surrounding the film.
Despite the tragedy, Rust has continued its journey toward completion, though it remains heavily overshadowed by the events that unfolded during its production. Baldwin, who was handed the loaded weapon by an assistant director, faced two separate charges of involuntary manslaughter. However, both sets of charges were dismissed, with the second dismissal in July 2023 occurring due to prosecutorial errors in handling evidence.
The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March 2023 and is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence. A motion to dismiss her charge following Baldwin’s mistrial was denied.
At the Camerimage Festival, Rust will be screened alongside a panel discussion covering the fatal shooting, Hutchins’ creative vision, and on-set safety. Director Joel Souza, who was injured during the incident, will be among the panelists, reflecting on the impact of Hutchins’ death and how production managed to move forward in the wake of the tragedy.
The Camerimage Festival, which runs from November 16-23, is renowned for its focus on cinematography, making it a poignant venue for remembering Hutchins, whose work and memory will be honored once again during this screening and discussion.
