NOW PLAYING IN US, CANADA CINEMAS: 73 MINUTES OF CAT VIDEOS, FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Source: The Star (Extract)
Posted: August 5, 2025
If you love cat videos, you’re in luck — the finest feline moments from the web are now playing on the big screen.
Cat Video Fest is a 73-minute, G-rated compilation celebrating all things cat: goofy, heartwarming, adorable, and hilarious. It’s currently showing in over 500 independent theaters across the U.S. and Canada.
A portion of the ticket sales supports cat charities, shelters, and animal welfare groups. Since its launch in 2019, Cat Video Fest has raised more than US$1 million for these causes.
The annual lineup is curated by Will Braden, the Seattle-based creator of the cult favorite Henri, le Chat Noir — a series of comically existential cat shorts. His business cards say simply: “I watch cat videos.” And he means it. Braden sifts through thousands of hours of online clips to handpick the very best for this festival.
“I want to showcase how broad the idea of a cat video can be,” Braden explains. “There are animations, music videos, mini-documentaries — it’s not just what I call ‘America’s Funniest Home Cat Videos.’ It’s not all cats falling into bathtubs — that would get old fast.”
Now in its eighth year, Cat Video Fest has grown bigger than ever, reaching audiences in Britain and Denmark, and for the first time expanding to France, Spain, Japan, and Brazil. Last year alone, the screenings brought in over US$1 million at the box office.
In the beginning, convincing indie theaters to show a cat video compilation was a challenge. But thanks to Braden and indie distributor Oscilloscope Laboratories, once a theater hosts the festival, they want to do it again.
“Every venue that hosts it asks for a return engagement,” Braden says.
Current theater partners include Alamo Drafthouse, IFC Center, Nitehawk, Vidiots, Laemmle, and Music Box. The festival draws a diverse crowd — from kids and cat lovers to hipsters and grandparents alike.
“It’s one of the few events, maybe alongside a Pixar movie or a Taylor Swift concert, that appeals to absolutely everyone,” Braden notes.
And the future looks bright.
“We’re not going to run out of cat videos, and people aren’t going to stop wanting to see them,” Braden says. “My job is just to keep making it funny and entertaining year after year.”