Feline Film Festivities: Cat Video Fest Returns to Delight and Support Animal Charities

The unusual and adorable Cat Fest is back, delighting audiences as it travels across the United States, Canada, and Australia. This festival, focusing on curated cat videos, aims to entertain viewers and raise funds for various cat charities and animal welfare initiatives. With a collection of over an hour of entertaining feline footage, it's sure to be a hit among cat enthusiasts.

Cat Video Fest features a curated selection of the finest cat clips sourced from public entries. What makes it even more commendable is that the proceeds go to supporting cat shelters and welfare organizations. Since its inception in 2019, the festival has successfully collected over $150,000 to support local shelters and promote cat adoption among attendees.

This year's highlighted reel runs for 73 minutes and includes a diverse range of videos showcasing different lengths, themes, and moods. Whether you adore grumpy cats, energetic playmates, musically inclined felines, or a kitty scaling a wall while 'Spider Pig' from The Simpsons Movie plays, there's something here for everyone who holds a soft spot for these animals.

The individual responsible for selecting the featured cat videos is Will Braden. In a conversation with Variety, he shared that he views around 15,000 cat videos annually, ultimately handpicking about 200 for the show. The entire process of choosing and organizing takes him the whole year. He humorously mentioned his business card describes him as a cat video viewer. It sounds like an incredible gig. He states that as long as the audience enjoys themselves and funds are collected for kitties in need, he's living the dream job anyone could wish for.

However, this year, Cat Video Fest faces competition from The NY Cat Film Festival, spearheaded by pet wellness advocate Tracie Hotchner, which is also set to take over New York City in October. This event will present a 90-minute screen featuring various cat-themed films, from animated shorts to mini-documentaries, all hosted by a group of feline anchors named Cats Eye Witness News. Let the friendly rivalry between the festivals begin, all in the name of cats.