Cute kitty clips come to Maine in CatVideoFest
PORTLAND, Maine — Fast-cut web kitty clips are pure catnip to feline worshipers, worldwide. They by no means tire of cute antics caught on video perpetrated by numerous tabbies, calicos and tiger cats as they leap into bins, swat one another within the kisser after which fail at even probably the most primary of leaps.
Beginning this weekend, Mainers have the chance to observe greater than an hour’s value of such addictive, laugh-out-loud movies, collectively, in public, whereas additionally elevating cash for needy native animals in their very own house state.
3 times a day, all weekend, the Portland Museum of Artwork is screening this yr’s installment of the worldwide CatVideoFest. The family-friendly compilation of feline-related hilarity gleaned from the web consists of animations, music movies and all method of viral submissions exhibiting cats doing the darndest issues.
A portion of ticket proceeds from the PMA screenings are going to the Animal Refuge League of Larger Portland.
“Who doesn’t like cat video?” mentioned Refuge League Govt Director Patsy Murphy. “They’re a type of stress reduction.”
The movie may also play twice on the Lincoln Theater in Damariscotta on Aug. 12. Ten p.c of these ticket gross sales will get donated to Midcoast Humane in Brunswick.
On Aug. 13, the CatVideoFest movie will transfer on to The Strand in Rockland the place the theater will ship 10 p.c of ticket gross sales to Thomaston’s Pope Memorial Humane Society.
This yr’s CatVideoFest trailer begins with two astronauts, on what seems to be like Mars, saying the factor they’ll miss most about Earth is — what else? — cat movies. The teaser then goes on to point out a grey tiger with extensive eyes and ears resembling bull horns. Then, a sassy calico struts by in a superb frock earlier than pushing up its Joe Biden-style aviator sun shades with an informal paw. Later, a cream-colored cat operates an irresistible laser pointer for one more, clearly delighted, mouser.
The group behind the annual CatVideoFest is a registered, special-purpose company primarily based in Washington. In accordance with its web site, the fest raised over $50,000 for numerous native cat charities throughout the nation with 200 screenings in 2019.
“We belief native individuals engaged on behalf of cats to know and perceive the issues that should be solved,” the positioning states.
The yearly CatVideoFest has been working, in a number of completely different varieties, since 2013. Anybody wishing to submit their very own video, or nominate another person’s for future festivals, can accomplish that on the pageant’s web site.
Portland’s Animal Refuge League has partnered with the museum for the CatVideoFest since earlier than the pandemic, Murphy mentioned. Greater than only a little bit of enjoyable, she mentioned the movies are a wonderful approach to elevate cash and consciousness concerning the essential work her group is doing.
The Refuge League may have a desk on the movie fest all weekend the place it will likely be spreading the phrase and signing up volunteers.
Murphy mentioned she believes watching often-absurd, real-life cats, in addition to cat movies, will be critically good for human well being.
“There’s a whole lot of constructive feelings that include watching cats and kittens,” she mentioned. “We’ve a kitten room right here and I’d like to have a kitten cam arrange — its on my want checklist for 2024.”
The CatVideoFest performs on the Portland Museum of Artwork on Friday at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday at 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
