Matchbox was filmed in Dunedin in February and is about a group of musicians who live inside a jukebox.
"It's got a 1930s-meets-sci-fi-of-the-future feel, but it's also a bit German expressionist in the way it's been shot," Belton said yesterday.
"It's got some dark edges, this film. It's playful and childlike, but it's also very much an art piece.
"You've got to engage and work towards it. It's abstract film-making and you are going on a journey."
The 50-minute dance film features Dunedin performers Caroline Claver, Tim Fletcher, Kilda Northcott, Richard Huber, Courtney Poulier, Donnine Harrison and Belton.
"It's the world premiere and it's great to be having it in Dunedin. It's very much a Dunedin product, although it's also an international project," Belton said.
"People will see Dunedin architecture that they walk past every day. For years I've looked at these buildings and wanted to bring them alive in a film context for dance. Places like the chief post office, Dunedin Public Library and the foyer of the old railway station.
"These buildings hold their own on the world stage," he said.
"Matchbox has a very European flavour. We can shoot locations here and they're connected to that. Far more than places like Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch, we've really got some architectural gems here and that was part of the inspiration for this film."
Belton has danced around the world with leading contemporary dance companies, including the Arc Dance Company in England, Compania Vicente Saez in Spain and the Tanz Company Gervasi in Austria.
"Part of why I love working from Dunedin is I think it's on its way back to its heyday, when it was the financial hub of New Zealand. I don't think we'll quite get back there again.
But, as the world's getting crazier, time and space means a lot and we have that here in Dunedin."
The European premiere of Matchbox will be held at the VAD International Video and Digital Arts Festival in Spain, after the Otago Festival of the Arts.
It has been a good year for Good Company Arts, with Reset and Soma Songs being selected as finalists in the 2008 ReelDance Awards in Australia.
Another film by Belton, After Durer, will have a free public screening at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery on October 25.
Matchbox screens at the Metro Cinema at 6pm today, tomorrow and Sunday.
