The NY Cat Film Festival celebrates the mysterious cats who share our world and their loving relationships with people. The Festival gives those who admire and are fascinated by cats to bring their films in front of like-minded cat lovers. These are not "cat videos" - these are films that have been made with an intention, concept or story to convey something essential about where cats fit into our human world. This festival is a way to honor cats and those who care about them and raise awareness for their needs and qualities while supporting the caregivers in their communities. This Festival is philanthropic and a portion of every ticket goes to an animal welfare organization in every city it visits. The 7th Annual NY CFF will premiere in NYC in October 2024 at the Village East by Angelika theater and will travel to many cities across the country and Canada into 2025.

Being chosen to be part of the NY Cat Film Festival automatically makes a filmmaker a winner! All chosen filmmakers will receive a gift bag and two 2 tickets (or more if requested) to the film program(s) in NYC.

Submission Guidelines to the NY Cat Film Festival (NY CFF) are as follows:
Entrants accept all rules and regulations of Pet Media Inc.(doing business as NY CFF, and referred to herein as NY CFF). Filmmakers must be 18+ yrs old or, if under 18, must have written adult consent by a parent or guardian.
The filmmaker must have the intellectual property rights and distribution rights to enter this film into the competition.
The filmmaker must have the performing rights for any music contained in the film and provide evidence should it be required.
The filmmaker represents and warrants that the submitted material does not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead and s/he fully indemnifies the Festival against any claim made for such violations of the law.
The filmmaker represents and warrants that the submitted material is an original work, that there are no disputes regarding ownership of the submission, that it is not subject to litigation nor is threatened by any litigation.
The filmmaker accepts responsibility for obtaining any permissions required by copyright law in the use of any music and images used in their films. NY CFF takes no responsibility for copyright infringement.
NY CFF is not responsible for any type of loss or damage to you pertaining to the film or its and you agree to hold NY CFF harmless from and defend them against any claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including attorney’s fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether or not they are groundless, based on any film submitted to the NY CFF.
SUBMISSION FORMAT
The NY CFF accepts only digital submissions viewable online. Chosen films will be transferred to a Digital Cinema Projection file, a Blu-Ray DVD, or a digital download for delivery to theaters for screening purposes. The filmmaker is responsible for supplying a high-resolution format of their film. Filmmaker assigns NY CFF the right to copy the entry in its entirety for technical operations in and through any and all current or future media formats.
Films that are not in the English language must be subtitled or dubbed.
Films are welcome that may have been previously seen by the public.
Films can have been made at any point in time.
Films must be “shorts” and less than 60 minutes long, with a preference for films less than 30 minutes long.
CONDITIONS:
By submitting a film, the filmmaker agrees that NY CFF does not pay screening fees under any circumstance. By submitting a film, the filmmaker is agreeing to screen his/her film without a screening fee or any other compensation if it is selected to be shown in any format as part of NY CFF anywhere in the world in perpetuity.
The filmmaker understands that films will be shown at multiple screenings across the United States, Canada and possibly other English-speaking countries over multiple years, although there is no guarantee that every film seen in the NYC annual premiere will be included in the traveling version.
You grant NY CFF and its successors, licensees, and assignees the use of your film and any associated photos or extracts for all destinations of the NY CFF in any year. You grant permission for any subsequent broadcast uses and platforms, including all digital formats, not limited to cinema projection, Video on Demand, AVOD, SVOD, DVD/Blu-Ray, streaming compilations, and emerging technology. Segments of the films may be used in trailers and marketing. Photographs, clips of films or filmmaker submitted images may be used in promotional material and social media. NY CFF may sub-license this right without further consent. NY CFF reserves the right to include any accepted films on any format used for promotional purposes.
NOTIFICATION:
The NY CFF Founder and Director, Tracie Hotchner, will have absolute discretion and make the final decision on which films will be included in the NY CFF.
Filmmakers will be notified of their status prior to the Festival by email. Filmmakers of chosen films will receive 2 tickets (or more if requested) to the program[s] at the NYC premiere of the NY CFF at SVA Theater in New York City.
The NY CFF will travel to multiple U.S. locations annually although there is no guarantee that every film seen in the NYC annual premiere will be included in the traveling version.
For promotional and publicity purposes, brief (less than one minute) clips of any film entered into the Festival may be shown on any network, the internet, or related media, including promotion by our sponsors.
Submitting a film to the NY CFF implies acceptance of these regulations, and your warranty that, to the best of your knowledge, all of the statements in this document are true.
By submitting your film, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to the stipulated terms.

Overall Rating
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Networking
  • Michele Campbell

    Being part of the 6th Annual NY Cat Film Festival was one of my biggest highlights in many years.

    It was run so professional and all the people associated with the Festival were great. I also enjoyed meeting the other video producers as well as all the people who came to watch the Festival.

    All the video selections were interesting and so enjoyable to watch.

    It's an event that shouldn't be missed!

    January 2024
  • Five star MEOWS all around for this festival and for the founder, Tracie Hotchner!! I appreciated her support so much throughout this process of submitting and having my (first ever) short film (A Cat Called Rumi) accepted. Now my feral cat is a starlet (yes, it is going to her head!) and I look forward to working on future film projects! MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW!!! Thank you, Tracie. :)

    October 2023
  • Kim Best

    As the exuberant and inexhaustible founder of this festival -- Tracie Hotchner -- likes to point out, this festival is about cat films . . . not cat videos. So, the festival each year is a mix of story-based short films (both documentary and narrative). The good news: If you have a film accepted, it will be a win-win situation. Tracie treats all of her filmmakers very well and there is excellent press coverage beforehand. Last, but not least, part of ticket sales go to local animal welfare groups as the festival tours the country.

    November 2022
  • Tracie's events are outstanding, and I was truly honored to have my film short chosen. And Tracie was beyond hospitable!

    April 2022
  • Paul K. Oh

    A generous and kind initiative to one of the world’s most beloved species, this was an exciting festival to be a part of. Received a fantastic tot bag, intriguing book on cats and a blanket (the cat uses it now). Everyone involved in the organizing deserves a big thanks! Would love to be a part of it again one day.

    November 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for the kind words - anytime you want to make another cat movie, just let me know beforehand and your fee will be waived as you are now one of my Lifetime Cat Filmmakers!