GAYLENE PRESTON’S PERFECT STRANGERS RECEIVES GALA AT MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
MONDAY 21 JULY 2003

The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) will hold a special gala screening of PERFECT STRANGERS, to be attended by writer/director/producer Gaylene Preston, actors Rachael Blake and Joel Tobeck, producer Robin Laing and associate producer Jay Cassells on Saturday 26 July, it was announced today.

A special pre-screening cocktail party will be hosted on the night by Festival Executive Director, James Hewison and Twentieth Century Fox’s Managing Director, Sunder Kimatrai.

Starring Sam Neill (THE PIANO, THE DISH), Rachael Blake (LANTANA) and Joel Tobeck (TOPLESS WOMEN TALK ABOUT THEIR LIVES), PERFECT STRANGERS is a chilling romance. When Melanie (Rachael Blake) goes home from the pub with a handsome stranger (Sam Neill), she is captivated by his charm and attentiveness. He sails her away to his “castle” – a rundown shack on a deserted island. But as passion becomes obsession and romance turns to rage, Melanie realises that she has been trapped. Torn between fear and desire, Melanie must escape - but her ardent admirer has other plans.

With captivating performances by AFI-award winning actors Blake and Neill, and stunning cinematography, PERFECT STRANGERS was filmed on the remote west-coast of New Zealand's South Island and features an outstanding soundtrack with new music by Neil Finn.

Writer, director and co-producer Gaylene Preston says, “It is an honour for PERFECT STRANGERS to be selected for a gala screening at MIFF. I am sure that Australian audiences will really get behind this film not only because of its haunting beauty, but because of the fantastic performances from Rachael, Joel and Sam.”

Writer/director/producer Gaylene Preston’s award winning features have included MR WRONG (1984), RUBY AND RATA, BREAD & ROSES and WAR STORIES OUR MOTHER NEVER TOLD US. Preston has produced several documentaries including the award-winning PUNITIVE DAMAGE and COFFEE, TEA OR ME?

Produced by Gaylene Preston Productions in association with Huntaway Productions, PERFECT STRANGERS will be distributed nationally by 20th Century Fox NZ early in 2004.