"Disgusting": colleagues of the shot dead Halyna Hutchins oppose the screening of the film "Rust" in Poland

Colleagues of Ukrainian cameraman Halyna Hutchins, who died on the set of the film "Rust," questioned the appropriateness of screening the completed film at the Polish Camerimage Film Festival. The premiere in memory of the Ukrainian woman with Alec Baldwin is scheduled to take place in November.

According to Deadline, before her death, Hutchins was a frequent guest of the festival. "I'm all for honoring Halyna and her beautiful work, but not by showing and promoting the movie that killed her," Oscar nominee Rachel Morrison wrote on Instagram.

The opinion of the American cameraman was supported by other well-known cinematographers in the comments section, for example, cinematographer Susie Lovell, who wrote: "Promoting a movie that was shot using unsafe methods that led to the death of a cameraman - please reconsider your position."

This sentiment is prevalent in the community of aspiring cameramen, which is tightly knit and largely isolated from the rest of the film world. Most of them know each other well and share tips on how to work in informal web forums and at rare events like Camerimage.

In a popular WhatsApp group chat seen by Deadline editors and used by hundreds of regular Camerimage delegates, participants claim to know Hutchins personally. They call the upcoming screening of Rust "disgusting". "I wonder why they chose to show this movie instead of showing her previous films if it's about honoring her work," wrote one person.

Another added: "The year of her tragic death, we screened her thesis for AFI, and members of the ASC came up and said a few words. It was touching... to show "Rust" at a film festival, especially a festival that focuses on people with disabilities? All I'll see is a giant image of the man (Alec Baldwin – Ed.) who pulled the trigger and took her life, and the gross negligence that led up to that moment. I really hope they reconsider this decision."

Others, however, caution against rushing to judgment, noting that Hutchins' former mentor and ASC president Stephen Lighthill will participate in a panel session at the festival following the screening of "Rust." "Obviously, her family wants this screening to happen. They say it was her dream," wrote one user.

It is currently unknown whether Alec Baldwin will attend the debut screening. In August, the actor was cleared of manslaughter charges after a court ruled that key evidence was misused. The film's gunman, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, is currently serving an 18-month sentence for manslaughter.

Hutchins was killed on October 21, 2021, after the gun Baldwin pointed at the cameraman fired a live round during a rehearsal at the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the indie western was being filmed. Baldwin, who insisted he did not pull the trigger and the gun went off on its own, faced up to 18 months in prison if convicted. The shooting and its aftermath remain a hot topic among filmmakers and other industry workers.

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