The film 'Taking Back Our Beach', which is about the local community response to the 2011 Rena disaster, is opening to packed cinemas on its first weekend, with the bookings for the week ahead also filling up fast.

Former mayor Stuart Crosby will be speaking to the audience and answering questions following the film screening on Tuesday night October 10, and Western Bay Wildlife bird expert Paul Cuming will be doing the same on Wednesday night October 11. 

Around 450 people attended the Bay of Plenty red carpet premiere on Thursday evening, spreading across two cinemas. Following the two screenings, a question and answer session was held with panels made up of interviewees from the film and the filmmakers.

For many people interviewed or involved in the making of the film, the premiere was the first time they had seen it.

"Went to the premiere tonight with others who were involved in the making of it and was blown away. If you were there at the time 12 years ago bring tissues. That wreck swallowed years of my life (and I make several appearances). It's utterly professional and moving," says Linda Thompson, who was the ICC communications manager during the Rena response.

"This is such an amazing documentary. Get along to United Cinemas Bayfair to catch it but be quick it’s only here for 2 weeks," says Craig Fellows, who experienced the loss of all their family's possessions that were in a container on the Rena.

"Put on my glad rags and took myself to the premier of #takingbackourbeach," says Larissa Allen, a local actor and filmmaker. "What an outstanding doco about the power behind community when we work together for good."

Michael Seabourne posted: "#takingbackourbeach just saw an amazing kiwi movie about the Rena grounding. Brilliant insight into the impact on the Tauranga community, the bureaucracy and the mobilisation of grassroots community and grace of our tangata whenua."

Charity fundraisers

An additional element to the film's screenings is the filmmakers making 'Taking Back Our Beach' available for local organisations to run their own fundraiser movie screening and include a guest speaker from amongst the film's interviewees.

The Rotary Club of Tauranga Sunrise ran their fundraiser alongside the Thursday night main premiere at an adjacent cinema at United Cinemas Bayfair, with Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Pim de Monchy and mariner Captain Kevin Judkins as guests for their Q&A session. 

"Having a guest speaker and Q&A just made it all so much more special," says one film-goer. "To have someone there who is in the film who can answer questions is just terrific."

Kevin has written a book "120 Days at Astrolabe" which is packed full of photos and daily accounts, with many photos being made available by Kevin for the film.

Captain Kevin Judkins, who spent 120 days out at the Rena. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

At 6.30pm on Tuesday, October 10,  PIPS - People, Plants, in Schools, will be hosting a special screening of the film, as a fundraiser, with guest speaker former Tauranga mayor Stuart Crosby for their Q&A session, following the film. Stuart was mayor during the Rena disaster and his insights are unique. Tickets are available here

Envirohub and Volunteering Services have joined forces to also hold a fundraiser, at 6.30pm on Wednesday October 11 at United Cinemas Bayfair.

"We'll be joined by Paul Cuming of Western Bay Wildlife who has spent many years looking after the birds along our beaches here in the bay," says an Envirohub spokesperson.

Paul Cuming with a grey-faced petrel chick. Photo: Supplied.

Western Bay Wildlife Trustee Paul Cuming became a "birder" at 15 and at 19 started leading teams around Mauao to study and band grey-faced petrels. Thirty years later the colony remains, due to pest control. Paul also runs the BirdsBOP branch of BirdsNZ. Bird banding, speaking, surveying, and fostering the enjoyment of studying birds are amongst his skill set. He has spent over 1000 hours on the Rena-related penguin work and appears in the film.

"We're raising funds for two conservation groups ARRC and Western Bay Wildlife who were instrumental in the care of wildlife before, during, and after the disaster.

"Representatives from the charities will be available for a Q&A session at the movie night and funds raised will be shared by the two."

The night is also an opportunity to find out more about emergency volunteer opportunies from the Volunteering Services team. Gold Coin raffles are also available on the evening.

"It seems fitting to host this movie night to give back to Paul and his organisation who have given so much time to help the wildlife after the Rena disaster," says an Envirohub spokesperson.

"We're looking forward to hosting this movie and hope you can join us in a celebration of volunteers and community pulling together in the face of adversity."

Tickets to Envirohub/Volunteering Services fundraiser are available here

United Cinemas Bayfair is screening the film five times daily during the first week, with additional groups also booking private screenings. Mount Maunganui Intermediate are bringing in 700 students across the next five days and other schools are also planning group bookings for parents and teachers.

The cinema has also opened bookings for a second week, providing opportunity for the thousands of volunteers who were involved in the beach clean up in 2011 to come and see the film that showcases the community response.

‘Taking Back our Beach’ is now screening at cinemas across the Bay of Plenty, including United Cinemas Bayfair, Luxe Cinemas, Whakamax, Katch Katikati, Opotiki’s De Luxe Theatre, Rotorua’s Basement Cinema as well as more than 20 cinemas NZ-wide. For screenings go to www.takingbackourbeach.com 

People are encouraged to hashtag their social media posts with #takingbackourbeach and share the link with their friends.