One Man's Odyssey tells the tale of Sisters Beach identity Kirk Dicker and his old surf life saving buddy Craig Machen.

When Mr Dicker is diagnosed with motor neuron disease, the pair decide to make the best of a bad situation and raise money for MND research.

The fundraiser would see Mr Machen paddle alone in a kayak around Tasmania - a feat undertaken by Mr Dicker's uncle Tony in 1982.

Burnie born director Lochie Hookway said the half-hour documentary was "definitely a story of courage, friendship and mateship".

"And there's definitely a strong sense of community, the North-West community really coming together," he said.

Hookway said One Man's Odyssey was also a story of two old friends reconnecting and fighting their own battles.

"While Kirk's battling motor neuron disease, Craig battles the conditions and the physically and mentally grueling trip, which is the circumnavigation around Tasmania," Hookway said.

"But he (Craig) realises that although what he's doing right now is the hardest thing he has ever done in his life, it really doesn't compare to the experience of someone with a terminal illness."

Hookway was studying film and television in Melbourne when he heard about Mr Machen's journey and decided to fly home, pick up a camera and start shooting.

He got to know the two friends well in the months before Mr Machen set sail in January 2017.

Hookway then joined the support crew that followed Mr Machen around the state, documenting the journey from support boats, drones and sequences on the shore.

"It's very much an observational documentary. It just plays out, nothing was overly planned or constructed," he said.

One Man's Odyssey will have its first official cinematic release in Burnie this week, however, a preliminary version of the film was shown in April 2018, which gave Mr Dicker an opportunity to see it before his death that December.

"It was really emotional for me having seen Kirk deteriorate so much but it was an awesome night, it was amazing to have Kirk there," Hookway said.

"I held his hand the entire time he was there. We laughed and we cried."

Hookway hopes to screen One Man's Odyssey across Tasmania and in Melbourne in the coming year.