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A long time advocate of the importance of telling New Zealand stories ("if we don't, no-one else will") her dramatic features as well as her many documentaries combine entertainment with a strong social message. – Lovely Rita, Perfect Strangers, War Stories, Bread and Roses, Ruby and Rata, and Mr Wrong.
Gaylene Preston’s most recent work is the ground breaking movie Home By Christmas. Still going strong in New Zealand cinemas after 11 weeks, the modestly budgeted film has so far grossed in excess of $1.1million in its home market of 4 million people and is currently no 15 of the Top Grossing NZ Films ever.
Her award winning work has screened extensively at international festivals including Venice, Sundance, Toronto, London, Chicago, Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand.
In 2001 Gaylene was the first filmmaker to receive a Laureate Award from the NZ Arts Foundation and this year received the inaugural lifetime achievement award for outstanding contribution to documentary from Documentary Edge.
She has served on most industry boards including the New Zealand Film Commission (1978-85) and New Zealand on Air (1999 - 2006.) She Chaired Creative NZ Film Innovation Fund (1984 - 86) and the NZ Film and Television Awards Society (1996 - 1999)
She is an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit for services to the film industry.
Filmography available from Gaylenepreston.com
What the critics said about the films of Gaylene Preston.
Home By Christmas 2010
" A small miracle of a film, a triumphant marriage of form and content and an instant classic." *****
Peter Calder. NZ Herald.
Perfect Strangers 2003
"One of the years best films, stylish, funny and disturbing… a true original." ****
Evan Williams. The Australian.
War Stories 1995
"A rich universal experience."
Kevin Thomas. Los Angeles Times
Bread and Roses 1993
"In the kill to watch category….. faultlessly directed.”
Neil Jillet. The Melbourne Age
Ruby and Rata 1990
"Preston and her team have woven a special kind of kiwi magic in this one - I'd crawl over broken glass to see it again - and again."
Peter Calder. NZ Herald.
Mr Wrong 1985
“A thoroughly spooky good time.”
Bill Gosden. NZ International Film Festival.
“A dandy little thriller marked by excellent performances.”
Judith Crist.
ALL THE WAY UP THERE(1978) LEARNING
FAST(1980) MAKING UTU(1982)
HONE
TUWHARE(1996) GETTING TO OUR
PLACE(1999)
PUNITIVE DAMAGE(1999- as
Producer) TITLESS WONDERS(2001)
COFFEE,
TEA or ME(2002- as Producer) EARTHQUAKE(2006)
TIME
of OUR LIVES(2007) LOVELY RITA (2007)
Interview
with Screen Directors Guild 2007: LOVELY, GAYLENE
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