Photo: Suzanne Sausville/WBZ NewsRadio
DEDHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Cat lovers united for CatVideoFest 2025 at the Dedham Community Theatre to give back to a good cause.
The 7th annual Cat Video Fest at the Dedham Community Theatre wrapped up on Sunday.
Seen in over 250 theatres in the U.S. and Canada, the festival features compilation reels that comprise hours of sourced footage from external submissions, online posts, and music videos. Dedham Community Theatre owner, Paul McMurtry, was initially skeptical about the event.
"For the first few years, we didn't offer it," McMurty remarked. "We were asked to, and it just didn't. I didn't know if it would have the appeal. We opened it for the first time last year, and there was a line out the door."
Now Paul and his brother David are fully invested in the event.
"It's amazing how they put it together," David said. "It's just you're enthralled from beginning to end in the movie."
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Since 2019, the social purpose organization has shown 75-minute montages of furry felines to communities to raise awareness around fostering and adoption opportunities. The annual event also raises money for destitute cats through partnerships with shelters, charities, and animal welfare organizations.
"Part of the contract with the distributor is that money has to go to a local shelter. And we have partnered with the Animal Rescue League of Dedem to make a contribution to them from proceeds from the ticket sales," McMurty stated.
Last year, CatVideoFest surpassed its target goal of crossing the million-dollar mark, raising over $100,000 for cats in need thanks to patrons like Donna from Hyde Park, who purchased three tickets for this year's festival after attending in 2024.
"They're heartwarming; they put together a really nice montage of videos. It's just a love and a laugh," said Donna.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Suzanne Sausville (@WBZSausville) reports.