For the Love of Cats

In the small mountain town of Barga, Italy, a group of four filmmakers speak with local cat lovers and immerse themselves in the unique world of street-trotting felines and Gattaras. Experience firsthand the connection between the people of Italy and the furry friends that walk alongside them.

  • Calvin Bowers
    Director
  • Calvin Bowers
    Writer
  • Jarred Taber
    Producer
  • Grant Aldinger
    1st Assistant Director
  • Olivia Claudon
    Director of Photography
  • Ty Bowers
    Composer
  • Giuseppe Sanfilippo
    Narrator
  • Calvin Bowers
    Editor
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Per Amore Dei Gatti
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Documentary, Animal
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 15, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Italy, United States
  • Language:
    English, Italian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of North Georgia
  • GCA Film Festival
    Carrollton, GA
    United States
    January 30, 2025
    Documentary Excellence
  • Bobcat Film Festival
    Milledgeville, GA
    United States
    March 7, 2025
    Best Editing
  • South Georgia Film Festival
    Valdosta, GA
    United States
    March 8, 2025
    Best Undergraduate Film
  • Backlight Film Festival
    Athens, GA
    United States
    March 29, 2025
    Best Editing
  • BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival
    Cary, NC
    United States
    September 11, 2025
    Best Student Short
Director Biography - Calvin Bowers

Calvin Bowers studied Film and Digital Media at the University of North Georgia. Focusing on both documentary and narrative film, he directed and wrote multiple shorts during his tenure, receiving modest recognition for his Italian cat-focused documentary For the Love of Cats (2025). He continues to write and direct films that tackle a wide range of subjects, while always remaining personal and intimate.

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Director Statement

The choice to have the film primarily be in Italian was made to respect the perspective of the stories being told. If the person we approached was more comfortable in their first language, then that's the side of them we wanted to speak with. For a film about community, nature, and shared harmony, the authenticity we sought to capture was essential to the film, and we shaped it around the discoveries we made and the beautiful people we met throughout the month-long production. The initial concept differed from the version we bring to you, but this is the truest. We let the existing narrative shape the film, rather than imposing our will on our participants and their world.