Dame Gaylene Mary Preston DNZM (born 1 June 1947) is a New Zealand filmmaker with a particular interest in documentary films.

Her feature film Home By Christmas was a dramatised oral history based on her father's memories of his wartime experiences, contrasted with her mother's perspective.

[2] Her other feature films include Mr Wrong, Ruby and Rata, and the mini series Bread & Roses (with producer Robin Laing).

[7] In May 2011 she publicly protested plans for Wellington Airport to erect a Wellywood sign on the hill beside the Miramar Cutting, the highest-profile industry opponent of this initiative.

At the festival they screened Preston's films Mr. Wrong and Perfect Strangers, which were reviewed in depth by Lauren Carroll Harris for RealTime.