3500+ Films - 2.5 million words – 1 million viewers! Founder and Curator Carmela selects some of our most entertaining, powerful and inspiring films about Cats and Dogs at We Are Moving Stories. These include shorts, features, documentaries and fiction about amazing cats and dogs, rescue, the unreal, fiction - and global stories.
Total length of this section: 22 films.
<AMAZING CATS>
Samantha's Amazing Acrocats - Self-taught animal trainer, Samantha Martin, quits her day job to create America's first traveling cat circus, The Amazing Acro-cats. But as debt mounts and success seems elusive, how long can Samantha hold out for circus stardom? Length: 58 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Jacob Feiring:
“I believe that this is a relatable story for everyone, cat lovers and non-cat lovers alike. It follows one woman at a crossroad in her life as she starts over and pursues a new endeavor, all the while hoping to find the following for her circus that she believes is out there. It is extraordinary to me any time someone imagines and wills something new into existence. I believe that others will feel similarly and strongly connect to this story.”
Cats of Malta - Cats of Malta celebrates the island's stray cats and the locals — who through volunteering, art and folklore—show the cats unconditional love and support. Length: 1 hour 9 minutes. Director Sarah Jayne Portelli:
“Through a series of carefully selected interviews with Maltese locals, Cats of Malta has universal appeal as each story is relatable – community, travel, and unconditional love are all universal themes explored in the doco. Cats of Malta is also a personal journey that I took, meeting the cats and talking with locals more about their connection to the stray felines.”
<RESCUE CATS>
Little Works of Art - In a dog-centric area of North Carolina, an inexhaustible cat lover opens – at age 82 – a cat museum, the success of which defies expectations and helps support his no-kill, open cat shelter. 12.37 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Kim Best:
“During screenings, I’ve been pleased to hear audience members both make sounds of empathy (on behalf of cats) and to laugh at times. The film is 12.5 minutes long, but I was told that I should have made it longer.”
Rescue - Apple Brown Betty’s mom, Lava, had a very hard time being isolated with her newly disabled life. Lava had began to film her disability story and discovered she wasn’t alone after all. The footage in “Rescue” was not planned and was shot when Apple Brown thought her mommy needed comforting (Lava was filming sad moments). “Rescue” chronicles what a feline’s "meowmy" imagined Apple Brown Betty was saying while she was consoling Lava as she was learning to walk again. Length: 2.8 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Lava Sheets:
“This project really evolved considering the shots were being made for a completely different film altogether. I edited “Rescue” before “The Rewrite” because I was so touched seeing my kitty trying to console me during my depression. Depression made me feel so isolated and alone. When I saw the footage of Apple Brown Betty “booping” me on the floor, it made me realize that I was never alone and very loved. Even though it was from my kitty, I really needed a friend and Apple Brown was there.”
<UNREAL CATS>
Shedding - A bored house cat who longs to explore the outside world escapes his home after he mysteriously transforms into a human. Length: 1 hour 15 minutes. Writer/Director/Editor Jake Thomas:
“You should watch Shedding because it’s like no other film you’ve seen on the festival circuit. At times absurd, or deeply moving and humorous, it’s a film that explores longing, grief, and transformation from a uniquely fresh perspective.”
Catherine - The bittersweet life story of a young girl who grows up to be a crazy old cat lady. Length: 11.51 minutes. Writer/Director Britt Raes:
“Well, the story is about a cat lady... Do I own a cat myself? Of course :) I have one cat, Kato. So having her around was an inspiration for sure.
But while I was developing the story, and was talking to other people about pets, I realised early on that it is a very universal theme. The presence of a pet in different stages of your life, as a kid and as an adult, has a big impact on people and how they structure their life.”
Call of Cuteness - All that is outsourced gets back to us in this consumerist nightmare. On a global playground the cat’s body is devoured. Objects are fetishized & subjects made into things. They are the natural resource of a luxury they´ll never know. The bodies reveal the causes & effects of power, pleasure & hate. Length: 4minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Brenda Lien:
“Cat videos always have an ambivalent effect on me: they´re funny at first, but at second thought the cats have something melancholic, maybe do to the slap-stick humor or because we´re “feeding” off their cuteness? I guess, the question that initially lead to this film was: how do the cats really feel when we force them into a hilarious Halloween costume? And: can we find this power dynamic in other places of our society as well? I think we can learn a lot about a culture, when we look at how it treats their animals.”
Dacryphilia - Pablo loves to cry. Adora loves a man who cries. They were perfect for each other until the day he ran out of tears. Length: 6 minutes. Director René Chandler and Writer Amanda Miha:
“This story exists in the realm of make-believe and the surreal, in a make-believe land with make-believe animals that can talk. René has created a set that uses a folklore inspired aesthetic, which helps to present this adult relationship-based drama as fairy tale.”
Budō - A lonely widow finds comfort in the company of a hungry stray cat, which soon takes over her life in unimaginable ways. Length: 14:51 Writer/Producer/Director Alexander Toma and Amanda Aagard:
“The script was written pretty fast without any thought of the bigger picture, but then when we read it it felt obvious that the real essence of it was courage, and that we’re all never too old for an adventure. The short is definitely playful and a bit surrealistic, so that opens up for all kinds of fun interpretations and everyone who watched it kind of has their little reading of it.”
<AMAZING DOGS>
Well Groomed Well Groomed is a journey into the kaleidoscopic world of competitive creative dog grooming. Length: 9 minutes. Director Rebecca Stern:
“You should watch the film because it’s beautiful and shocking! But also because the women are so passionate about what they do. The bit I love to watch the most, in the footage and on screen, is the attention to detail each groomer puts into their design. The women competing at Hershey love every brush stroke and shade of color on these dogs - and they spend hours between the conception of the design to the final product making it right. I have a deep appreciation for their artistry, and I think the audience will walk away with the same.”
Big Men, Small Dogs - Meet five large men and the little dogs they love. Length: 8.42 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Cat Mills:
“The film is about big guys with little dogs, but it is framed by the general public making assumptions about them because they have small dogs. Women find them sweet and nurturing, men and women think that the dog must belong to a girlfriend.
I find masculinity very interesting right now. There is a shift happening with men in which they are starting to question their identity and what it means to be a ‘man’.”
Underdogs - At the California Men’s Colony in Central California, a special connection forms between dogs and their inmate handlers who train them to become fully operational service animals. Length: 15:44 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Alex Astrella:
“I think the theme of compassion and resilience are big themes in my film. It’s something I didn’t really anticipate going into the prison, but once I was there those emotions and attitudes were definitely on display.”
Adele and Everything After - The moving story of a woman with a broken heart and the service dog who saves her life. Length: 86 minutes. Director/Producer Melissa Dowler:
“Adele and Everything After is an intimate and authentic look into a life. It was filmed over the course of three years, and it follows Marty through moments of triumph, and also through challenging lows. For the audience, it’s a window into a real life and, most importantly, a film about a woman with an illness; a segment of society that is often ignored, minimized and misunderstood. Marty puts a relatable human face on to a story of overcoming the challenges of an invisible illness, and audience members will see the world a little differently when they experience it through her eyes.”
<UNREAL DOGS>
CHANCE - A peaceful and imaginative pit bull struggles to survive in the world of underground dogfighting. Length: 90 minutes. Producer Phil James and Writer Kenny Young:
“It’s a theme of “faith”. Believing in yourself and believing you can make a change. Living in these times, we feel that’s a theme that everyone can connect with.”
Set Adrift - Four Legs, One Broken Heart. Set Adrift explores grief from the point of view of a dedicated and loving dog named Patch. Length: 8 minutes. Writer/Director Jennifer Sheridan:
“I think anyone who has experienced loss will appreciate this film, but even if you haven’t, the dog’s portrayal of longing, confusion and sadness is something that needs to be seen to be believed. I’ve trained my dog Bowie since he was a puppy and so I wrote the script knowing what he was capable of, but even I was surprised by some of the things he did on the day. He’s incredibly patient and smart, it was a wonderful experience to make this film with him.”
Grill Dog - Collin (13) and Keith (7) run away from their family vacation resort in search of a ‘titty waterfall,’ but when they accidentally maim someone’s pet dog, they have to confront life, death and their own sibling rivalry. Also, there are dick jokes. Length: 17 Minutes. Director Corey Aumiller:
“There is something for everyone in GRILL DOG — cussing kids, adorable animals, beautiful vistas, sibling rivalry, action, adventure, suffering, loss, you name it. You’ll laugh and you’ll cry. You’ll feel all the feelings.”
The Dancing Dogs of Dombrova - An estranged sister and brother travel to Poland at the request of their dying grandmother to retrieve the bones of her childhood dog. Length: 102 minutes. Director/Producer Zack Bernbaum:
“I was at my parents’ house one day and my sister’s dog starts jumping up and down. My Bubbie exclaimed, “She’s dancing!” It was a really sweet moment that connected our family. My Bubbie is from a town in Poland called Dombrova Gornicza, and the title The Dancing Dogs of Dombrova popped into my head, fully-formed.”
Possibilities - Immediately after his dog dies, Dennis goes on a tinder date thinking it will make him feel better. He is wrong. Length: 11:30 minutes. Writer/Director/Editor Charlotte Barrett and Sean Fallon:
“SEAN: Well everyone grieves. Everyone gets sad. Everyone can relate to our lead character. They might cringe at the choices he makes, but they can recognize themselves in what he does.
CHARLOTTE: What truly excited us about the film was how his choice to go on a tinder date after his dog died and force his grief on an unsuspected woman allowed us to explore topics such as sexism, community, and unconscious bias.”
<RESCUE>
Flying Fur - Welcome to the friendly skies of animal rescue. Saving dogs one flight at a time is the mission, but changing the fate of these lovable creatures is no easy task. Lives are at stake and failure is not an option. Length: 36 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer/Editor Alicia Wszelaki:
“Have you ever wondered how you can make a difference? Learning about someone who wants to make the world a better place in small ways. It’s something that most people can relate to.”
Life In The Doghouse - tells the inspiring life stories of Danny Robertshaw and Ron Danta and the remarkable work they do at Danny & Ron’s Rescue. Ten years and 10,000 dogs later, their unique approach to life and dog rescue will capture hearts and inspire millions to make the right choices when it comes to man's best friend. Length: 82 minutes. Director Ron Davis:
“I met Danny and Ron when I adopted my second rescue dog from them. When I saw how they approached dog rescue, I knew that their story could have an impact on audiences around the country and I wanted to share that story.”
<GLOBAL>
Pariah Dog paints a lyrical, kaleidoscopic picture of the city of Kolkata, seen through the prism of four outsiders and the neglected street dogs they love. The film gains intimate access to the lives of its subjects as they both care for the stray animals around them, and struggle to find their own place in this crowded megacity. Length: 1 hour 16 minutes. Director/Producer/Editor Jesse Alk:
“Pariah Dog is the story of people who have a lot of personal challenges, but who keep moving forward, find a purpose in life, create their own identity, and fight for what they believe in. I think that’s a struggle we all can relate to. On a personal level, I made the film at a time when I was in a crisis of meaning in my own life. I felt aimless, I’d lost a sense of passion. A recent death in my immediate family had left me asking a lot of questions about mortality, suffering, the care we provide or don’t provide for each other, and what makes living life worthwhile. All I had wanted to do in life was to make documentaries, but I hadn’t followed that dream..”
Dogs of Democracy is an essay-style documentary about the stray dogs of Athens and the people who take care of them. Shot in location in Athens, the birthplace of democracy, the documentary is about how Greece has become the 'stray dogs of Europe', and how the dogs have become a symbol of hope for the people and for the anti - austerity movement. Length: 58 minutes. Director Mary Zournazi
“I made the film because I fell in love with the Stray Dogs of Athens, and I wanted to tell a story about them. I was also intrigued about the people who take care of them, and what that might say about another way to dream, and another way to hope.”