Dame Gaylene Preston DNZM is celebrated as a leading filmmaker, having produced and directed some of the most enduring popular classics of New Zealand cinema. Preston is a storyteller whose work has a distinctive flavour that entertains while presenting serious subjects with humour and warmth. Her compassion and understanding of real life, and real people, combined with her talent for portraying on film metaphoric stories, over four decades has contributed to Gaylene’s peerless reputation as a distinct local voice.
Preston’s generosity of spirit and powerful mentorship and advocacy skills have been central to the development of New Zealand’s filmmaking community.
Features: MR WRONG (1985), RUBY & RATA (1990), WAR STORIES OUR MOTHER NEVER TOLD US (1995), PERFECT STRANGERS (2003), and HOME BY CHRISTMAS (2010), MY YEAR WITH HELEN (2017)
In 2001 she was the first filmmaker to receive an Arts Foundation Laureate Award and in 2002 she was made an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit for her services to the film industry. In 2016 she was awarded a NZ Woman Of Influence Award for Arts and Culture and in 2017 was given the Premium Moa Award for services to cinema.
In 2018 she was resident scholar in film at Jesus College Cambridge UK. Read More
