International stars arrive to shoot new Kiwi film

Mark Strong, Jamie Bell and Abbie Cornish are in New Zealand to film the new action thriller 6 Days. Photo / Getty, AP

Tintin star Jamie Bell and The Imitation Game's Mark Strong have arrived in New Zealand to begin shooting the action thriller 6 Days, alongside Aussie actress Abbie Cornish.

Directed by acclaimed Kiwi filmmaker Toa Fraser, the film is a co-production between New Zealand and Britain, with filming set to move to London in August.

Based on real-life events, the film is the story of a six-day hostage siege at the Iranian Embassy at London's Princes Gate.

Director Toa Fraser on the set of his last film, The Dead Lands

26 people were held hostage in a tense stand-off while Britain's SAS soldiers prepared to raid the building.

The film is produced by Matthew Metcalfe and the General Film Corporation, which most recently produced Fraser's acclaimed Maori action film The Dead Lands.

Shooting will take place in Auckland, contributing to an already bumper year for the industry.

Film and television studios are booked out across Auckland with local and international productions.

Jamie Bell has filmed in New Zealand previously, working with Sir Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg on Tintin.

Insiders say it is becoming increasingly difficult to find qualified crew members as there are so many productions in progress.

It's a far cry from 2013, when the industry experienced its worst down turn on record, with thousands of film-workers left unemployed.

Revised tax incentives were announced in December 2013, bolstering the industry and seeing an influx of foreign productions head to New Zealand.

- nzherald.co.nz