The mother of late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is boycotting the world premiere of “Rust” at a film festival in Poland on Wednesday, citing concerns over Alec Baldwin's involvement in the film following her daughter's tragic death.
The Western film is set to premiere at the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Camerimage in Torun, three years after Hutchins was accidentally shot on set during a rehearsal.
Baldwin, who is the lead actor and co-producer of “Rust,” was handling a gun during the rehearsal outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, in October 2021 when the firearm discharged, resulting in Hutchins' death and director Joel Souza's injury.
Hutchins' mother expressed her disappointment in Baldwin's actions, stating that he has not taken responsibility for her daughter's death and is seeking to profit from the tragedy.
Despite the festival dedicating the premiere to Hutchins, her mother has chosen not to attend, emphasizing the lack of justice for her daughter and Baldwin's refusal to apologize.
Hutchins, a talented Ukrainian cinematographer and mother, was on a promising career path before her untimely death. The involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin was dismissed by a New Mexico judge, but he faces civil lawsuits, including one from Hutchins' mother.
The film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, received a jail sentence for involuntary manslaughter due to her negligence in handling live ammunition on set, which led to the fatal shooting.
This year's Cameraimage festival has faced controversy, with director Steve McQueen and Coralie Fargeat withdrawing their films in protest of perceived sexism in festival founder Marek Zydowicz's editorial. Zydowicz has since issued an apology for the remarks.
