Alec Baldwin‘s Western film “Rust” is set to have its world premiere at the EnergaCamerimage International Film Festival in Toruń, Poland on November 23. The film, in which Baldwin serves as both an actor and producer, comes three years after the tragic on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
“Rust” takes place in Wyoming during the 1880s and follows the story of a 13-year-old boy who must care for himself and his younger brother after their parents’ death. However, he is forced to flee with his estranged grandfather when he is sentenced to hang for accidentally killing a local rancher.
The festival plans to pay tribute to Hutchins during the screening. She was killed on October 21, 2021, when a prop firearm held by Baldwin discharged a live round during a scene rehearsal near Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Following the screening of “Rust,” director Joel Souza will participate in a panel discussion alongside cinematographers Bianca Cline and Stephen Lighthill. Lighthill mentored Hutchins during her studies at the American Film Institute.
During this panel discussion, Souza and his fellow filmmakers will address the events surrounding Hutchins’s death and explain their decision to continue production. They will also discuss how they maintained Hutchins’s artistic vision throughout filming and explore important industry topics such as safety protocols on set and women’s involvement in film.
Baldwin will not be attending the screening of “Rust.” In response to the shooting incident, he expressed remorse through social media posts and has been cooperating with authorities throughout their investigation.
Baldwin faced charges of involuntary manslaughter but was acquitted halfway through his trial due to lack of critical evidence provided by prosecutors. The film’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for loading the gun that caused Hutchins’s death.
Gutierrez-Reed’s attorneys have requested either an overturning of her conviction or a new trial based on undisclosed evidence that could potentially exonerate her. However, these requests were denied by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer who upheld Gutierrez-Reed’s conviction.
