Halyna Hutchins

About Halyna Hutchins

Halyna Hutchins (full name Halyna Anatoliivna Hutchins, née Androsovych) was a highly respected Ukrainian-American cinematographer and director of photography known for her innovative visual storytelling, adventurous spirit, and rising star status in the film industry.
Born in Horodets, Ukraine (in the Ukrainian SSR), she grew up on a remote Soviet military base in the Arctic Circle—"surrounded by reindeer and nuclear submarines," as she described it—where limited outdoor options sparked her early love for movies. She earned a graduate degree in international journalism from Kyiv National University, then worked as an investigative journalist on British documentary productions in Eastern Europe. Inspired by the storytelling and aesthetics of film, she moved to Los Angeles and graduated from the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory in 2015. There, she honed her craft in cinematography and quickly built a reputation as a talented, collaborative artist.
Halyna worked on over 30 feature films, shorts, and TV projects, including Archenemy (2020, superhero action), Blindfire (2020), The Mad Hatter (2021), Treacle (2019), In Absentia (2017), and Crossing Point (2016). She was a member of ICG Local 600 and represented by Innovative Artists. In 2019, the American Society of Cinematographers named her one of 10 "Rising Stars of Cinematography." Colleagues praised her as a team player, adrenaline junkie (she loved extreme sports like parachuting and cave exploration, often filming herself), and a "restless dreamer" who brought unique vision and passion to every set. Her Instagram (@halynahutchins) and website (halynahutchinsdp.com) still reflect her bio and legacy, with a memorial scholarship fund at AFI in her name to support aspiring cinematographers.
Tragically, on October 21, 2021, at age 42, Halyna was fatally shot on the set of the Western film Rust at Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico. During a rehearsal, actor/producer Alec Baldwin discharged a prop revolver (believed to be a "cold gun" with no live rounds), but it contained live ammunition, striking Halyna in the chest and grazing director Joel Souza. She was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque but was pronounced dead shortly after. The incident sparked widespread discussions on set safety, gun protocols in film, and industry accountability; it led to investigations, lawsuits, and criminal trials (including the armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed's conviction for involuntary manslaughter).
She was married to Matthew Hutchins (since 2005), with whom she had one son. Her family and the filmmaking community remember her as a gifted, fearless artist whose work and warmth continue to inspire through her films, the scholarship fund, and tributes like the Hulu documentary Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna.
Rest in peace, Halyna—your visionary eye, adventurous heart, and dedication to storytelling live on in every frame you captured and every life you touched. 🎥💔✨ HalynaHutchins Cinematographer #RustMemorial