A still image from this year’s CatVideoFest
(Photo/CatVideoFest)
It seems like the internet and cat videos go together like milk and cookies. And there’s someone whose real, full-time job is watching thousands of them to curate the annual, movie-length, ultimate internet cat video compilation.
Evolving out of the virality of his award-winning short film “Henri 2, Paw De Deux”, CatVideoFest creator and producer Will Braden’s eye for the feline funny factor led to annual full-blown, movie-length productions catching international attention. According to Braden, CatVideoFest 2025 is expected to hit 250 theaters globally. But there’s only one place in Maryland you can watch it: the AFI Silver.
And it’s popular, too, regularly selling out showings. “We have a really dedicated audience that loves it,” AFI Silver Senior Film Programmer Josh Gardner told Montgomery Community Media.
This August, the AFI Silver Spring will be hosting an opening weekend showcase of CatVideoFest from Aug. 1 through Aug. 3. A portion of the AFI Silver’s CatVideoFest ticket sales go toward supporting a local animal rescue.
“In retrospect, I was destined to watch 12,000 cat videos every year and do this”
When Braden gave his Golden Kitty Award acceptance speech for his work on “Henri 2” at the inaugural Internet Cat Video Festival in 2012, he told the crowd he’d make another one for the following year’s ‘cat video fest’.
ICVF organizer Scott Stulen later told him, “I guess we’re doing this every year now. You just told 11,000 people – not to mention 20 media outlets – that there’s gonna be one,” according to Braden. And, so, there was.
He became involved with ICVF until 2016, when he took the reins. On the evolution of this annual tribute to feline hijinks, Braden said, “so, yeah, I mean, in retrospect, I was destined to watch 12,000 cat videos every year and do this.”
Since developing the event into what is now CatVideoFest, Braden said it had become his full-time job. Although his business card says, “I watch cat videos,” organizing CatVideoFest, he said, entails so much more.
Behind the scenes, he’s contacting venues, working through contracts, collaborating with content creators, among other hats his job requires him to wear, he said.
“It’s part of the DNA; every single show we do has to have a local beneficiary”
Every participating theater must also partner with a local animal rescue or charity. With charity integral to the fabric of CatVideoFest, Braden told us, “as long as I’m in charge of it, that won’t change.”
Each year, the AFI Silver works with different local organizations, according to Gardner. This year, they’re partnering with Homeward Trails, which will be receiving a portion of the proceeds from CatVideoFest ticket sales.
CatVideoFest partnerships have raised more than $150,000 for animal welfare charities worldwide since 2019, according to CatVideoFest’s website.
A still image from this year’s CatVideoFest
(Photo/CatVideoFest)
CatVideoFest will be shown in the AFI Silver’s 1938 art deco theater, Gardner said. “It’s a really… special opportunity to experience what we have to offer at the Silver. And hopefully people will come back and see all the different offerings we have, with or without cats.”
Screenings like this are part of AFI Silver’s Special Engagements series. Those who enjoy CatVideoFest, Gardner said, might also be interested in Count Gore Presents, where “Creature Feature” legend Count Gore De Vol (Dick Dyszel) engages with guests and plays audience games before the movie.
“We try and balance it out and have programming that’s for everyone, but, yeah, CatVideoFest is definitely one of the most fun things we do in the year,” Gardner said.
CatVideoFest is only available in theaters, and reproductions of the film are not distributed, according to Braden.
Learn more and get your tickets here. To find other screening locations, check out the CatVideoFest official website.
