‘Just for Cats’ film festival features 60 minutes of feline hilarity

WATCH ABOVE: The festival features 60 minutes of cat videos culled from the internet and a red carpet with live feline guests. Peter Kim reports.

TORONTO – James Corballis flew in from Ireland just to attend the one-day festival. His “accidental” video has earned over three million views and will be one of around 70 playing tonight at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.

“It was my little kitten who saw me playing a record on my turntable. She went to investigate and started to scratch like a DJ. It was totally accidental,” said Corballis.

The video won over a million views in the first 48 hours.

“I didn’t sleep for a couple of nights.”

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The Just for Cats: Internet Cat Video Film Festival is a co-presentation between the TIFF Bell Lightbox and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. It goes across Canada after the TIFF opening,

Even though the entries have been culled from the internet, there’s still a very good reason to attend in person according to Barbara Cartwright, CEO of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.

“It’s about watching cat videos together. There really is nothing like it. It’s taking what we like to do alone at home and bringing it into the theatre and enjoying it together,“ she said.

Along with two screening at 7:00 p.m. and 9:15 p.m., a red carpet will welcome four live cats that are up for adoption. The sign-up and paperwork are processed on site.

Some would argue Toronto is a cat-crazed city. Jennifer Morozowich is hoping to open its first cat cafe where customers can indulge in caffeine and feline affection simultaneously.

“Everything is ready to go, I’m just looking for a building,” said Morozowich.

Cartwright believes we are so fascinated by cats because they behave in a way we wish we could. “I think it’s because cats are unpredictable, adventurous, unremorseful. They try the craziest things, and then just get up and walk away.”