CatVideoFest is coming to Toronto's Fox Theatre for four screenings in August, turning roughly 200 funny, adorable, and unusual cat clips into a shared big-screen event while raising money for cats that still need homes.
What's happening?
Toronto moviegoers can catch CatVideoFest at the Fox Theatre on Aug. 7, Aug. 8, Aug. 9, and Aug. 13, according to Now Toronto. Tickets start at $11.50 for children and $17.50 for non-members. 10% of ticket proceeds will go to support Toronto Cat Rescue.
Festival director Will Braden said the annual compilation is assembled from a massive pool of internet videos. "It's about 75 minutes, and I pack about 200 separate clips in there. It's every single thing you can imagine for cat videos," Braden told Now Toronto.
Braden said the first version launched in 2012 at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, where "13,000 people showed up," and that he has been running CatVideoFest from Seattle since 2016.
Why does it matter?
Toronto Cat Rescue helps more than 2,500 cats each year, and the festival's donations help support that work. Braden also said CatVideoFest has brought in upwards of $1 million for animal groups.
Dave Goslyn, fund development manager of Toronto Cat Rescue, told Now Toronto, "The Toronto Cat Rescue is a no-kill animal rescue charity that saves over 2,500 cats every year." The organization rescues cats from abuse, neglect, abandonment, and overcrowded shelters before placing them in foster care and permanent homes.
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Goslyn said the rescue is dealing with kitten season, when shelters and foster networks are stretched thin. Even when cats are adopted, those fees do not fully cover the cost of veterinary treatment, making outside fundraising especially helpful for medical care.
What's being done?
CatVideoFest is built around a simple model: entertain people, then channel some of that excitement back into local rescue efforts. Braden said partnering with community shelters helps ensure the money goes where it is needed most. "It's important for us to provide the cat videos, but trust that the shelter knows what's best for the community," he said.
The Toronto event will include a pre-roll featuring Toronto cat photos submitted to the festival, even though the main compilation includes cats from far beyond the city.
"It's a really great feeling to know that all you have to do is watch cat videos, have some fun, and know you're doing good at the same time," Braden said.
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