The Quarantine Cat Film Fest it taking over 100 independent virtual art house cinemas on June 19.
The film fest will be a feature-length movie made up of a bunch of shorter films of people’s cats doing weird stuff and the proceeds from ticket sales will go to help each individual cinema. So far locally, the Neon in Dayton has signed up to screen the fest.
But the Quarantine Cat Film Fest is promising more than an “ode to feline fandom.”
Until May 15, the owners of Row House Cinema in Pittsburgh (aka the producers of the fest) are accepting video submissions from cat owners to be considered for inclusion in the film in four categories: Cutest, Funniest, Bravest and Most Loving.
The videos will be judged and winners will get an as-yet-to-be-determined cash prizes. All films must be shot in landscape mode and less than 30 seconds. You can get more contest details and read the fine print at rowhouse.online/cats.
“As we discussed the devastating impact of the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders with other movie-theater owners around the country, we began hearing a common refrain: Moviegoers are at home with their kitties,” said Brian Mendelssohn, owner of Row House Cinema, in a release. “At the same time, we saw the growth and innovation of virtual cinema. That’s how we cat-apulted into this idea to celebrate cats, our moviegoers and our love of cinema all at once, and to help raise revenue for independent movie theaters, who are deeply at risk due to closures.”
The virtual cinema experience allows moviegoers to purchase tickets from their local participating theater or, if there isn’t a local theater, from Row House Online. Regardless of which option you choose, half of the ticket price will go to the independent theater — either your local option or Row House. The Quarantine Cat Film Fest can be viewed on your computer, device or streamed on your smart TV via a link and password after you purchase a ticket.
The release says it is “revenue that will help ensure these locally owned, independently run cinemas can survive the COVID-19 crisis until reopening.”
Get full details at rowhouse.online/cats.
This article appears in May 6 – Jun 14, 2020.
