She came halfway around the world to pursue her dream, and on Saturday night Marina Bonofiglio struck it lucky.

The aspiring Argentinian film- maker got to meet her idol, director Sir Peter Jackson, at The Hobbit wrap party at Wellington's TSB Bank Arena.

Bonofiglio, who studied at Buenos Aires Film School, came to New Zealand in February with dreams of pursuing her film passion.

The 24-year-old met some Argentinians who were working on the Hobbit films, and one invited her as his guest to the hottest party of the year.

It was there that she got to meet Jackson. "It was a really amazing moment," she said.

"He is such an inspiration in so many ways. He was friendly, the music was really loud and I didn't want to take too much time from him, but he was really nice.

"The Hobbit is something really big all over the world right now, which is fascinating."

She had arrived at the party with printed photographs of Jackson, as well as one of her and a friend, in case she got the chance to meet her hero. That chance came soon after arriving at the party about 9pm, when the director walked past her.

About 3500 cast and crew packed the TSB Bank Arena to celebrate the end of 266 days of filming.

Among them were Hobbit stars James Nesbitt, Dean O'Gorman and Mark Hadlow, who play dwarfs Bofur, Fili and Dori respectively.

The partygoers danced to live music from Ladi6, Scribe, Tim Finn and Wellington band The Satisfactions.

Ruth Pretty Catering prepared the food, which included homemade icecream, pies, and coffee.

From 7pm there was a constant stream of guests arriving, and the party was still pumping well after 2am.

Many of the guests kept partying at city bars after leaving the arena.

Contact Sophie Speer
Culture and Capital Day reporter
Email: sophie.speer@dompost.co.nz
Twitter: @sophie_speer

- © Fairfax NZ News

Comments