The mother of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer who lost her life during the filming of Alec Baldwin’s Western movie “Rust,” is protesting the film’s premiere scheduled for this week.

Olga Solovey, Hutchins’ mother, expressed her heartbreak in a statement on Tuesday: “I always dreamed of watching my daughter’s work come to life on screen in Poland. Sadly, that opportunity was taken from me when Alec Baldwin fired his weapon and caused her death.”

Solovey continued, “Alec Baldwin has amplified my grief with his lack of apology and accountability for my daughter’s death. Instead, he seeks to profit from this tragedy, which is why I refuse to attend the festival promoting ‘Rust,’ especially when justice for her is still pending.”

Gloria Allred, Solovey’s lawyer, also spoke out against the decision to showcase the film to the public.

Allred stated, “Alec Baldwin has shown a lack of respect towards Halyna’s family. Despite being the one who fired the gun that killed her, he has never reached out to apologize. Moreover, through his lawyers, he claimed that Halyna was emotionally distant from her family in Ukraine, which is both false and offensive. His failure to extend any condolences is deeply hurtful and dishonors Halyna’s legacy.”

Allred added, “A plan has been set in motion to market ‘Rust’ to generate profit for Alec Baldwin and those associated with Halyna’s tragic death. This is something Olga, her father Anatolii, and her sister Svetlana cannot support.”

Representatives for Baldwin were not available for comment, and YSL News has reached out to the film festival for a response.

When will ‘Rust’ premiere?

The film “Rust” is set to premiere on Wednesday at Poland’s Camerimage film festival, nearly three years after Baldwin’s prop gun accidentally discharged during rehearsals, resulting in the death of 42-year-old Hutchins and injuries to director Joel Souza.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Souza, cinematographer Bianca Cline, and Hutchins’ mentor, Stephen Lighthill.

The festival plans to provide insights into the film’s production journey, especially the challenges faced after Hutchins’ death, stating, “It was vital for the filmmakers to stay true to Halyna’s artistic vision, which was remarkably tough for everyone involved, as they sought to honor her legacy.”

Marek Zydowicz, the festival director, characterized the screening and subsequent discussion as a “unique chance to commemorate” Hutchins.

According to the festival’s overview of “Rust,” the narrative centers on a 13-year-old boy named Lucas Hollister who, alongside his younger brother, is left orphaned. Lucas faces a death sentence after he accidentally shoots and kills a neighboring rancher while trying to protect his family’s struggling farm from a wolf.

Ongoing legal issues involving Alec Baldwin and Halyna Hutchins’ family

Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter charge was dropped in July due to prosecutors and law enforcement allegedly withholding evidence beneficial to Baldwin’s defense. Meanwhile, the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter earlier this year and is currently appealing her 18-month prison sentence.

Baldwin remains entangled in a legal struggle with Hutchins’ family and script supervisor Mamie Mitchell, who initiated a civil lawsuit against him in June. Allred mentioned that Baldwin’s legal team has requested a delay in the proceedings, a move Allred intends to oppose.

In 2022, Baldwin and the production team of the film reached a settlement with Hutchins’ husband, Matthew Hutchins, and their son. As part of the agreement, Matthew Hutchins was granted the title of executive producer for the film.