Celebrated New Zealand film maker Gaylene Preston says she is “delighted” to have accepted the role of patron of EIT’s Screen Production Programme.  The Wellington-based writer, producer and director has also confirmed she will attend the student short film premiere on 19 November, and present the awards for top student and best film.  

Programme Coordinator Claire McCormick whose sister went to Colenso High School with Preston is over the moon, “What a wonderful filmmaker to welcome into the EIT family and have in the audience at our student’s premiere.  Gaylene’s career has spanned three decades.  Her generosity and mentorship has been a huge factor in growing a strong and diverse New Zealand’s filmmaking community.  Her work has ranged across fiction, non-fiction, and advertising.  Gaylene has already contributed a great deal as a filmmaker to the local community.  Her film Survivors Stories featuring eyewitness accounts of the 1931 earthquake screened continuously for more than a decade as the centre-piece of the much visited earthquake display at HB Museum.  Her links with EIT include opening the purpose built screen production facilities on the Hawke’s Bay campus in 2005.  I am excited to see what she will bring to the role of EIT Patron!”

Preston has been recognised by her peers as great supporter of young people starting out in their careers, earlier this year she picked up the Mentor Award at the Screen Symposium attended by EIT’s Chris Verburg.  Preston says, “I love the new people and the young people coming through, and I think we’ve got a great filmmakingcommunity.”