Now playing in US, Canada cinemas: 73 minutes of cat videos, for a good cause
The best of the Internet's cat videos are showing at cinemas.
Cat Video Fest is a 73-minute, G-rated selection of all things feline — silly, cuddly, sentimental and comedic — that's playing in more than 500 independent theatres in the United States and Canada.
A portion of ticket proceeds benefit cat-focused charities, shelters and animal welfare organisation. Since 2019, it's raised over US$1mil.
The videos are curated by Will Braden, the Seattle-based creator of the comedically existential shorts, Henri, le Chat Noir. His business cards read: 'I watch cat videos.' And it's not a joke or an exaggeration. Braden watches thousands of hours of Internet videos to make the annual compilation.
'I want to show how broad the idea of a cat video can be so there's animated things, music videos, little mini documentaries,' Braden said. 'It isn't all just, what I call, America's Funniest Home Cat Videos.' It's not all cats falling into a bathtub. That would get exhausting.'
Now in its eighth year, Cat Video Fest is bigger than ever, with a global presence that's already extended to Britain and Denmark, and, for the first time, to France, Spain, Japan and Brazil. Last year, the screenings made over US$1mil at the box office.
In the early days, it was a bit of a process trying to convince independent movie theatres to programme Cat Video Fest. But Braden, and indie distributor Oscilloscope Laboratories, have found that one year is all it takes to get past that hurdle.
'Everywhere that does it wants to do it again,' Braden said.
Last year, the screenings made over US$1mil at the box office. Photo: AP
Current theatrical partners include Alamo Drafthouse, IFC Center, Nitehawk, Vidiots, Laemmle and Music Box. The screenings attract all variety of audiences, from kids and cat ladies to hipsters and grandparents and everyone in between.
'It's one of the only things, maybe besides a Pixar movie or Taylor Swift concert, that just appeals to everybody,' Braden said.
And the plan is to keep going.
'We're not going to run out of cat videos and we're not going to run out of people who want to see it,' Braden said. 'All I have to do is make sure that it's really funny and entertaining every year.' – AP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
20 hours ago
- The Star
Pamela Anderson: 'Yes, Sylvester Stallone tried to seduce me with a Porsche'
Canadian-US actress Pamela Anderson revealed Stallone's offer in her 2023 Netflix documentary, 'Pamela, A Love Story'. Photo: AFP Pamela Anderson has hit back at Sylvester Stallone for denying her claim that he once tried to woo her and make her his 'No. 1 girl' by offering to buy her a condo and a Porsche. Anderson stuck to her story about Stallone while appearing on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen Sunday. Seated next to her new boyfriend, Liam Neeson, her co-star in the cop-drama spoof The Naked Gun , Anderson played along with Cohen's game in which the host asked her to respond to media reports about her. Cohen explained that Anderson, 58, revealed Stallone's offer in her 2023 Netflix documentary, Pamela, A Love Story . As Anderson nodded, Cohen then said Stallone, 79, allegedly asked the former Baywatch star to be his 'No. 1 girl' in exchange for buying her a condo and a luxury sports car. In her documentary, Anderson also had said she rejected Stallone's offer by quipping: 'Does that mean there's a No. 2 girl?' Stallone allegedly replied to her rejection by saying: 'That's the best offer you're gonna get, honey. You're in Hollywood now.' Cohen then asked Anderson: 'What was your reaction to Stallone coming out after the doc was released and saying this was a falsehood?' Anderson laughed, shook her head, rolled her eyes said, 'Well, how could you make that up? You know?' 'Right!' Cohen replied, as Anderson looked to Neeson, then laughed again and said, 'That was pretty specific.' Cohen then asked Anderson whether there was a 'different car' that might have changed her mind about dating the Rocky legend. 'Maybe, like, a Shelby Cobra,' Anderson joked, before repeating 'no' several times. Neeson, meanwhile, laughed along before admitting to Cohen that he was yet to offer his new girlfriend a car. And while Anderson said she turned down action-star Stallone's affair offer, it was reported last week that she and Neeson, a late-career action star with the Taken movies, are dating. Indeed, their affection for each other was pretty evident on Cohen's show as the Irish actor reached out to touch Anderson's shoulder, and she sweetly patted his hand. A source told Us Weekly that Anderson and Neeson 'always had chemistry while they were filming The Naked Gun , and their friendship naturally developed into more.' This source also said the new couple are 'learning how to navigate (a romance) together' as they continue their whirlwind publicity tour for The Naked Gun , a reboot of the hit comedy franchise from the late 1980s and early 1990s. 'They are both shy and have tried to stay private, but the spark between them is obvious,' the source added. It was reported last week that Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson are dating. Photo: Reuters Meanwhile, Stallone's representative was adamant in denying Anderson's claims that he tried to buy her love and attention. 'The statement from Pamela Anderson attributed to my client is false and fabricated,' the rep said in a statement in 2023. 'Mr Stallone confirms that he never made any portion of that statement.' – Mercury News/Tribune News Service
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Prince Harry cleared of 'bullying' in African charity row
LONDON – The UK's charity watchdog on Wednesday cleared Britain's Prince Harry of accusations of bullying in a row with an African charity he founded, but deplored that the bitter internal dispute was played out in public. The charity Sentebale was at the centre of an explosive boardroom dispute in late March and April when its chairperson Sophie Chandauka publicly accused Harry, the youngest son of the UK's King Charles III, of "bullying". Days earlier, Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho had announced they were resigning from the charity they established in 2006, after the trustees quit when Chandauka refused their demand to step down. Harry, also known as the Duke of Sussex, launched the charity in honour of his mother, Princess Diana, to help young people with HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and later Botswana. After its months-long inquiry, the UK-based Charity Commission "found no evidence of widespread or systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir at the charity," it said in its conclusions published Wednesday. But it "criticised all parties to the dispute for allowing it to play out publicly", saying the "damaging internal dispute" then "severely impacted the charity's reputation". It added there was "a lack of clarity in delegations" and added this led to "mismanagement in the administration of the charity". It has issued the charity with a plan to "address governance weaknesses". Harry said in an April statement that the events had "been heartbreaking to witness, especially when such blatant lies hurt those who have invested decades in this shared goal". Chandauka had accused Harry of trying to force her out through "bullying (and) harassment" in an interview with Sky News. In one example, Chandauka, who was appointed to the voluntary post in 2023, criticised Harry for his decision to bring a Netflix camera crew to the charity's polo fundraiser last year, as well as an unplanned appearance by his wife Meghan at the event. The accusations were a fresh blow for the prince, who kept up only a handful of his private patronages including with Sentebale after a dramatic split with the British royal family in 2020, leaving the UK to live in North America with his wife and children. "Moving forward I urge all parties not to lose sight of those who rely on the charity's services," said the commission's chief executive David Holdsworth, adding improvements should now be made. Harry chose the name Sentebale as a tribute to Diana, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997 when the prince was just 12. It means "forget me not" in the Sesotho language and is also used to say goodbye.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Exhibit ‘paints' a picture of identity
Heritage on display: Visitors examining a piece during the media preview of 'Negaraku II' at the Hin Bus Depot in George Town, Penang. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star GEORGE TOWN: As National Day approaches, a question often arises, particularly among the younger generations: what does it mean to be a Malaysian? A month-long art exhibition in Penang, titled 'Negaraku II' and held in Hin Bus Depot along Jalan Gurdwara, invites everyone to ponder that notion on a deeper level. Curated by Ivan Gabriel, it features 35 works from the private collections of Bingley Sim and Ima Norbinsha, two passionate champions of socially conscious Malaysian contemporary art. The show builds on the success of the first 'Negaraku' exhibition at the same venue last August, which sparked discussions about nationhood, growth and direction. This time, it shifts the focus to identity and belonging, widening its lens to include the diverse voices of citizens, migrants and everyone in between. Klang Valley-based Sim said they wanted to highlight how Malaysia's identity can be a constantly evolving mosaic of cultures and experiences. 'We wanted to create space for often-overlooked narratives and remind people that our national story is far from one-dimensional,' he shared in a media preview last Friday. This is reflected in the diverse selection of works, which range from paintings to sculptures, photography, mixed media, woodcut prints and fabric pieces. Ivan said they avoided using just portraits as representations of identity and instead chose to articulate it through stories about culture, pride, migration, food and shared aspirations. As such, the exhibition and its accompanying book were organised into thematic chapters, allowing visitors to gain a multi-layered view while deriving their own meaning from the journey. 'Negaraku II is a call to re-examine what it means to belong. It's about honouring every face and every untold story that breathes life into this land,' he said. Sim believes visitors will find glimpses of harmony in every piece – be it a neighbour's kindness, memories of a shared meal or the resilience of those who came from elsewhere and now call this land home. Among the featured artists are Edroger Rosili, Mat Ali Mat Som, Nur Ameerah Nabihah, Pangrok Sulap, Ahman Fuad Osman, Safar Zin, Gan Tze Hooi and Ho Mei Kei. 'What's important is that history is not forgotten. I would rather not collect art just for profit but to preserve pertinent narratives of our country,' he added. The exhibition is free to the public and is open until Aug 31. Viewing hours are noon to 7pm on weekdays and 11am to 7pm on weekends. It will have its opening reception on Aug 9 at 8pm.
