A film portraying a playful dolphin's adventures in the Bay of Plenty will be shown at international film festivals later this year.

Moko – Soul in the Sea will be shown at the Wildscreen festival in the United Kingdom in October and Blue Ocean film festival in Florida, USA the following month.

Amy Taylor filming Moko in Tauranga Harbour.

Filmmaker Amy Taylor says it's also being shown on Air New Zealand flights.

The film took three years to make after Moko was first spotted in Tauranga Harbour by Sun Media director Brian Rogers on Queen's Birthday weekend in 2010.

Brian was the first resident to make contact with the bottlenose dolphin after Moko stole his kayak paddle.

Amy says it was that charismatic spirit which led her to make a documentary about Moko in 2010.

'It feels all surreal really because it has been such a long project, but I guess that what happens with independent films I have been making. 'I am really excited about it. It will be good to share the story finally.”

The documentary follows the impact Moko had on a small community.

Amy says it starts off being a novelty and everyone is in love with him but it's interesting how human nature then comes into play with a bit of conflict between people.

'Some people [were] saying he should be left alone and others [were] saying he needed company 24/7.”

Moko was found dead on Matakana Island on July 8.