Hollywood star Billy Baldwin has stepped up to defend the premiere of ‘Rust,’ a film that was put on hiatus following a fatal incident involving his brother, Alec Baldwin.

Despite the controversy, the movie is slated to premiere at the prestigious International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Camerimage in Poland this November, marking three years since the unintended death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The production of the western-style movie was halted back in 2021 after a prop gun Alec was handling discharged, resulting in the death of Halyna and injury to director Joel Souza.

However, the first screening of the film will take place at the 2024 Camerimage festival.

Showing support for his elder sibling and lead actor of ‘Rust’, Billy Baldwin shared with TMZ at the ‘Americans With No Address’ premiere, “I think it’s great, because my understanding is, it was the wishes of the family that they could go because they wanted the public to see her last work.”

Billy Baldwin has supported his brother Alec ( Image: Getty Images)

Charges against Alec Baldwin in the Halayna Hutchins trial were dropped ( Image: AFP via Getty Images)

He continued, expressing the family’s desire: “They wanted to honor her by having her work finished and having her work seen.”

According to reports from Deadline, Hutchins, originally from Ukraine, had hoped for the film to feature at the festival prior to the harrowing events that took her life. The movie wrapped up production in May of the previous year, reports the Mirror.

Uncertainty looms over Alec Baldwin’s attendance at an upcoming event, while his brother Billy Baldwin has already bowed out citing work obligations. In a shocking twist for Alec, a judge recently tossed out his involuntary manslaughter trialclaiming bobbled evidence led to this decision.

Alec implored the court to rebuff the prosecutions bid to reassess the matter, highlighting their failure to present fresh proof.

Marek Zydowicz, the festival director, expressed in an official statement: “During the festival, we honored Halyna’s memory with a moment of silence and a panel of cinematographers discussed safety on set. Now, once again, together with cinematographers and film enthusiasts, we will have this special opportunity to remember her.”

Formerly, Alec maintained that he had not activated the gun nor understood the presence of actual rounds within it. Reflecting on robust support received, Alec has voiced his gratitude before: “There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now. To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family.”

As the film wrapped up last year, Alec informed his supporters: “It’s been a long and difficult road. But we reach the end of the trail today.”

The Camerimage festival is set from November 16-23.