Perfect Strangers supported by The West Coast Development Trust

The West Coast Development Trust has announced a $200,000 loan to Gaylene Preston Productions that funded post-production work of the film Perfect Strangers.

Filmed on the wildly beautiful West Coast, the film explores the fine line between love and pursuit, romance and danger, fear and obsession. The cast includes award-winning actors, Rachel Blake and Sam Neill, with cinematography from West Coaster Alun Bollinger and a soundtrack that includes music by Neil Finn.

“Perfect Strangers was an ideal project for the Trust to invest in because of the employment and promotional benefits it provided to the region,” says Mike Trousselot, Chief Executive of The West Coast Development Trust.

“This loan ensured the production company could meet the costs of completing the film to the highest level of technical excellence.”

The West Coast benefited through the jobs created during filming at a number of locations around the region. And with the film just starting to be shown around the world, it will raise the profile of the West Coast as a desirable location, both as a film setting and a tourist destination.”

Perfect Strangers will be released in New Zealand in February next year. Its premiere at the Melbourne Film Festival was a sell-out and it has also screened at the 26th Montreal Film Festival, receiving solid reviews. The film will soon be presented at festival screenings in Germany and then London. The London Festival will be a big night out for New Zealand tourism, with two other New Zealanders, Christine Jeffs and Jane Campion also screening new films.

The West Coast Development Trust is partnering with Film South New Zealand to further develop the film industry on the Coast. Film South is an agency that provides information and advice to film-makers and specialises in promoting Canterbury and the West Coast as ‘film friendly and ‘location rich’ regions.

West Coast Development Trust Chairman, Frank Dooley, says the West Coast region has significant potential to develop a niche film industry.

“We need to build on the wealth of knowledge already existing in our region. I’m confident that films like Perfect Strangers and the partnership we have formed with Film South, will attract further investment in our region and provide well paid, skilled jobs.”

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