Lil Bub, Tara the Hero Cat and More at the LA Feline Film Festival

September 6, 2014September 12, 2014 Bernadette

10,000 people watching the big screen (from the back) at the 2012 Cat Video Festival at Walker Art Center in Milwaukee. — 10,000 people watching the big screen (from the back) at the 2012 Cat Video Festival at Walker Art Center in Milwaukee, courtesy Organikat’s LA Feline Film Festival.

One of these days I’ll make it to one of these feline film festivals—what a chance to meet famous cats and spend a whole day watching cat videos, and just generally hang out with several thousand cat-loving people, probably dressed in their favorite cat costumes. And even browse a number of cats for adoption!

Cat Faces, courtesy Organikat’s LA Feline Film Festival.

I couldn’t make it to this year’s festival in LA but promised I’d let others know about the event and the fine people presenting and sponsoring it, especially since a portion of the proceeds will benefit several cat rescues and shelters in the LA area, and shelters and rescues will have cats on hand for adoption. Considering the success of “offsite adoption” events, what could give a kitty a better chance at finding a home than putting her in front of 10,000 cat lovers at a total celebration of cats? I’m sure they’ll be sold out of cats in no time!

Public events like this are also a great way to raise awareness of the unique qualities of felines and help change their reputation and acceptance in the general public and help shelters and rescues and creative people mingle. Two years ago when the first film festival was announced I heard a lot of people laughing at the thought of a bunch of “cat people” getting together to watch cute cat videos, but the laugh was on them when over 10,000 people gathered for the day at the Walker Art Center in Milwaukee, famous cat reputations were established, awareness and funds were raised to help cats in need and the genre of cat videos took a respectful turn.

Gift package donated to FosterCat from Organikat's LA Feline Film Festival. — Gift package donated to FosterCat from Organikat’s LA Feline Film Festival.

More information on the festival is below, but first I’d also like to thank Organikat’s LA Feline Film Festival for their donation to FosterCat, Inc. for auction at next week’s benefit dinner of a gift package of goodies from the film festival’s presenter, Organikat, and a few sponsors, Swheat Scoop, Feline Yoga and Modern Cat Magazine. along with two extra vouchers from Swheat Scoop.

The Los Angeles Feline Film Festival is presented by planet-friendly pet products maker, Organikat, and the Walker Art Center from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., September 21 at Christmas Tree Lane at Exposition Park in Los Angeles, Calif. The LA Feline Film Festival will feature special appearances by renowned felines Lil Bub and Tara the Hero cat, a cat costume contest, feline-themed exhibits and vendors, and will close with a compilation of the web’s most watched cat videos on an 80-foot outdoor screen and much more.

“While cats have always been beloved pets for millions, they’ve reached a new height of pop-culture celebrity in recent years, thanks in large part to the plethora of adorable, entertaining, and downright hilarious videos created and shared by cat fans across the globe,” said Erik DeLeo, founder of Organikat. “We’re thrilled to showcase some of the world’s most famous felines at the LA Feline Film Festival, and give cat fanatics the opportunity to celebrate with these furry idols in person.”

The festival, which originated in Minneapolis and has been seen in various markets nationwide, will offer Angelinos a “cat”prehensive experience featuring ABC’s Shark Tank success story Steve Gadlin, creator of “I Want To Draw a Cat For You,” as well as:

Crazy Cat Costume Contest
Celebrity cats
Live cat adoptions
Food trucks
Live music
Vendors including Windfall Natureceuticals, Rawr and Pamela Baron Designs
Beer tent
And more!

Attendees are encouraged to dress up in their favorite feline-inspired attire, and pet cats are welcome as long as they are comfortable with crowds and on a leash or in a carrier.

Tada, it's Bub! courtesy — Tada, it’s Bub! courtesy Organikat’s LA Feline Film Festival.

Lil Bub, one of the world’s most famous felines, will be available for an exclusive meet and greet. Adopted by her “dude,” Mike Bridavsky, as the runt from a feral litter, the dwarf, polydactyl cat charmed the world with her unique “perma-kitten” features that stem from genetic mutations, including shortened legs and protruding tongue. Helping to raise awareness for specially-able and shelter cats, Lil Bub has garnered worldwide acclaim as an author, talk show host, movie star, and has helped raise more than $100,000 for animals in need.

Tara the Hero Cat, courtesy Organikat's LA Feline Film Festival. — Tara the Hero Cat, courtesy Organikat’s LA Feline Film Festival.

Tara was labeled a “hero cat” by news outlets including CBS News and Good Morning America, after a video in which she chased a vicious dog attacking her 4-year-old owner went viral, reaching more than 16 million views in the first two days after it was uploaded. Tara will also be available for a meet and greet.

Sponsors of the LA Feline Film Festival include Swheat Scoop, Natural Balance, Pussy and Pooch and Modern Cat Magazine. A portion of proceeds will go to select animal rescues including NKLA, Stray Cat Alliance, Kitty Bungalow, Fix Nation and Milo’s Sanctuary which will be onsite with cats available for adoption.

Tickets start at $15, and are available online at http://lafelinefilmfestival.com/tickets/. Show organizers expect approximately 10,000 attendees.

For interviews with show executives or guest celebrity cats, or to obtain press credentials for the LA Feline Film Festival, contact Lindsay Albright at 858.750.9295 or [email protected]. To become a vendor or sponsor, contact [email protected].

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The Internet Cat Video Festival is a project of the Walker Art Center, a nonprofit contemporary art center in Minneapolis, MN. The world’s first-ever Internet Cat Video Festival was conceived at the Walker in 2012 as a modest celebration to bring online communities together in the real world. Catvidfest became its own viral phenomenon, drawing more than 10,000 fans to the Walker’s Open Field green space and winning the attention of local, national, and international audiences and media. More than a collection of cute cat videos, Catvidfest is an embrace of an internet phenomena and experiment in transforming a solitary online viewing experience into a real world social event.

Organikat_sideways_logo_2012 ABOUT ORGANIKAT

Organikat is a line of planet-friendly über-green items for pets including organic catnip items and eco-cat scratchers. Driven by a founding mission to provide only the best green products for animals, Organikat products are produced in a way that minimizes the impact on the environment, while providing the highest-quality of sustainable products to customers and their cherished pets. Additionally, all Organikat products are made in the USA. Committed to supporting healthy animals everywhere, five percent of Organikat’s after-tax profits are donated to pet adoption services, spaying/neutering efforts, and no-kill animal shelters. To learn more, visit www.organikat.com.

Browse some rescued cats and kittens—browse here or visit PittsburghCAT!

All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in using one in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of this image or a product including this image, check my Etsy shop to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.