Alec Baldwin has recently confirmed that he will be returning to Boulder International Film Festival this year for the first time since 2010. The event will now play host to the most personal public appearance by the film star since the unfortunate event in October last year when cinematographer Haylna Hutchins lost her life. Baldwin said in a statement:
The tragic incident took place on the set of Rust, an indie Western film starring, co-written and produced by Alec Baldwin, when a prop gun discharged a live round hitting and killing Hutchins. Baldwin himself was holding the gun at the time, although it is believed he never actually pulled the trigger, with the discharge being the result of a malfunction.
“I am quite excited about returning to the Boulder International Film Festival which I last attended in 2010, I think Boulder is a great town and I know they have a wonderful festival.”
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An investigation is still ongoing, with many questions being raised about the safety of the conditions on set and why the production opted to use a replica both capable of firing and loaded with live rounds. As co-producer and key witness, Baldwin could still face severe legal charges, hence his absence from public life with the investigation pending.
Baldwin’s only other appearance since October 21st was a role as master of ceremonies at the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award Gala. A traditional hosting gig for the 30 Rock star, delivering jokes and heaping praise on the night’s honorees.
Baldwin will officially be appearing at the Boulder International Film Festival as the first-ever “special guest programmer” to present a showcase of three films that have influenced his career. The films selected for the showcase are Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 classic Dr. Strangelove, the acclaimed political documentary The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers and the upcoming Julia Child documentary Julia, which is an early favorite for the following Academy Awards.
After each of the screenings, Baldwin will then hold a brief Q&A alongside film critic Lisa Kennedy to discuss the three films in question and what made them so influential to him. Following the showcase, Baldwin will also have an exclusive interview with Ron Bostwick in front of a live audience at the Boulder Theater.
The topic will most likely involve the festival and some of the films within rather than any hard-hitting questions. Still, there will probably be many other burning questions going through the minds of those in attendance. Baldwin will, of course, be restricted from any information he can relay about an ongoing investigation.
Festival director Kathy Beek, recently confirmed the news that Baldwin would be appearing at Boulder with the following statement:
Alec Baldwin also recently began a new podcast as he continues to step up his return to public life. The series titled Art Fraud will take a look at the forgery ring that was orchestrated by New York’s Knoedler Gallery between 1994 and 2011. His appearance at the Boulder International Film Festival will take place between the 3rd and 6th of March later this year.
“This is our first year having a Special Guest Programmer, and it’s wonderful to be able to feature Alec Baldwin, who is a friend of the festival and is very knowledgeable about film. In addition to being an actor and writer, he has a podcast called Here’s the Thing with Alec Baldwin and served as a host of The Essentials on Turner Classic Movies, a series presenting some of the most essential films ever made to TCM viewers. We’re honored that this year Alec will be taking on this important role and sharing some of his favorite films with BIFF.”
