Teary-Eyed And Jam-Packed: The World Premiere of “Andy Irons: Kissed By God”

Saw it written and I saw it say, ‘Pink moon is on its way. And none of you stand so tall. Pink moon gonna get ye all’ – Nick Drake.

Guests walking out of the world premiere of “Andy Irons: Kissed By God,” at the Fox Theater in Los Angeles last night, were met by a soft, full Pink Moon hanging just above the horizon, named for the time of year the first spring flowers begin to bloom. As the past-capacity crowd of more than 1,200 staggered out into the temperate night, still reeling from the film they’d just seen, it was hard not to feel the weight of the evening. 

The film seemed to hold the promise of closure for some, and clarity for many—six years after Andy Irons’ death, the hazy and heartbreaking details surrounding it would finally be brought out into the light, demons and all. 

While the evening was sure to be a well-attended affair, it walked the line deftly between premiere party and an opportunity for the thousand-plus person crowd to mourn one last time, together.

When the house lights came on, guests were slow to stand, not eager to leave their seats, hiding their bloodshot eyes from the cruel houselights, consoling one another while stumbling together out into the warm evening. Bruce Irons made his rounds, friends from every corner of the surf world making a point to embrace him thoroughly as he made his way to the after event down the street, stopping to speak at length with old friends—Cory Lopez, Christian Fletcher, Tom Servais, Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson, Reef McIntosh, Fred Patacchia, Sunny Garcia, Jeff Booth, and Pat Tenore—as Christian Hosoi, Johnny Knoxville, and a host of Hollywood heads bobbed amongst the crowd. 

The film will finish a round of World Premieres, in Hawaii on May 6, and in New York City on May 10th, before a 500-theater special screening, on May 31. 

Bruce Irons and Cory Lopez.

Photography

Victoria Moura

Steve “T. Sherms” Sherman and Mick Fanning.

Photography

Ron Lyon

Johnny Knoxville and partner Naomi Nelson.

Photography

Ron Lyon

Snapt3 Filmmaker and friend of the Irons family, Logan Dulien.

Photography

Ron Lyon

Lyndie Irons and P.M. Tenore.

Photography

Ron Lyon

Strider Wasilewski.

Photography

Ron Lyon

Zeke Lau.

Photography

Ron Lyon

XXL Big Wave award hoarder, Ian Walsh.

Photography

Ron Lyon

One of the Irons Brothers’ closest comrades, Aloha Aina Warrior Dustin Barca.

Photography

Ron Lyon

The film will finish a round of World Premieres, in Hawaii on May 6, and in New York City on May 10th, before a 500-theater special screening, on May 31.
 

Photography

Victoria Moura