Makeover for River Queen

Wanganui District Council is to spend $150,000 turning the city into "River Queen country" after being given the green light to hold the commercial premiere of the movie on January 24.

The last few kinks were ironed out on Monday at a meeting with 20th Century Fox marketing manager Mark Croft.

"We told him that we intend the premiere to be an inclusive rather than exclusive affair with all of Wanganui invited to join in," deputy mayor Dot McKinnon said.

The premiere will be a celebration of the film being made in Wanganui and on its river, with posters up all over the city.

Wanganui and the river featured heavily among the film's locations.

River Queen received its first international exposure on September 12 at the Toronto International Film Festival.

It is set during the turbulent times of the mid-19th century when Maori and British forces were at war and tells the tale of a woman's search for her lost son.

Stars Samantha Morton and Kiefer Sutherland are expected to attend the premiere.

- NZPA