The premiere marks three years since Hutchins' passing during production.
A special evening dedicated to Hutchins’ memory will accompany the screening, featuring a panel discussion with the film's director Joel Souza, cinematographer Bianca Cline, and Stephen Lighthill, Hutchins' mentor from the American Film Institute.
While Souza will attend the festival, Alec Baldwin, who was holding the firearm that discharged during the accident, will not be present.
Honoring Halyna Hutchins and discussing film safety
The festival organizers emphasized that the panel discussion will delve into the "events surrounding the production," focusing on how the filmmakers endeavored to complete the project in line with Hutchins’ artistic vision.
"Halyna’s story will serve as a springboard for conversations about the role of women in cinematography, their contributions to the art, and crucially, on-set safety," the organizers said.
Halyna Hutchins had advocated for Rust to be featured at Camerimage, a festival she cherished.
"She felt at home among cinematographers from around the world who have gathered at Camerimage for over 30 years," said festival director Marek Żydowicz.
The Camerimage festival, now in its 32nd edition, celebrates the art and craft of cinematography. This year’s jury is chaired by Cate Blanchett.
Past participants have included luminaries such as Quentin Tarantino, Denis Villeneuve, David Lynch and Andrzej Wajda. The festival’s top prize, the Golden Frog, honors outstanding achievements in film, television and music video cinematography.
The festival runs until November 23.
The Rust tragedy: a dark chapter in film history
Set in 1880s Wyoming, Rust tells the story of a 13-year-old boy navigating loss and survival alongside his estranged grandfather. However, the film gained notoriety after the October 2021 incident in which Hutchins was fatally shot and Souza injured during filming. Baldwin, who held the revolver, believed it contained blanks.
The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was not present at the time. She was later sentenced to 18 months in prison for negligence. Baldwin faced involuntary manslaughter charges, but they were dismissed in July last year due to prosecutorial misconduct.
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Source: IAR, PAP, TVN24