- Cats of Malta takes audiences on a journey through the island's colorful cat colonies, cafes, parks and streets to meet the volunteer feeders and artists whose lives are enriched by stray cats.
- Cats of Malta is a family-friendly documentary initially produced with the intention of uncovering the mystery of how and why 100,000 stray cats came to inhabit Malta, plus, how these stray cats were so well cared for and by whom. As the story developed rapidly through speaking with feeders, artists and sanctuaries, a deeper understanding and appreciation for Malta's cat community and of Malta's cat culture transpired, thus the story scope expanded in many unexpected and exciting directions.
Part travel-loge, and also partly educational, Cats of Malta touches on a wide range of topics which effect stray cats and the environment in which they exist - the lack of ongoing neutering programs, the need for a widespread trap, neuter, return campaign, and the misplacement of cats due to the island's constant over development.
Through interviews with locals within Malta's cat community, plus an artist who has brought the island's felines to the forefront of tourism in Malta and Japan, Cats of Malta invites the world to take a journey to Malta to hear the story of Malta's stray cats.
The interviewees are varied and not limited by age or expertise. Featured is Malta's youngest cat feeder, Isaac Muscat who spends his pocket money on trapping and neutering cats, theatre actor Polly March who feeds three colonies in Naxxar, volunteers of Malta's only cat cafe Animal Guardian's Carmen Kolerio and Caroline Borg, Cat Village matriarch Roza Zammit, former owner of Two Buoys restaurant Michelle Degura and local artist Matthew Pandolfino who created the Independence Gardens cat statue.
Audiences will discover Malta's large cat population, learn the challenges facing the felines, while gaining insight into Malta's cat culture and what changes need to be made. Each interview cements the importance of human-cat connection, the power of community and the benefits of spending time with cats. All this while providing audiences old fashioned feel good entertainment for not just cat people, but even those who are not yet convinced that cats rule the world.
Set in Malta - the smallest and sunniest country in the European Union - Cats of Malta takes audiences on a journey through the colorful cat colonies, cat cafes, parks and streets, with the use of sweeping drone shots over limestone villages and turquoise seas, and hand held camera work to never miss a cat-centric moment. The result is a polished cinematography approach that remains true to the documentary style expected, following the action when called for, staying still for the talking heads moments and allowing the cats to just be while the camera rolls. The color palette remains warm throughout, just like the island it showcases, animated scenes highlight some amusing story points and the cats are as charming as expected.
Cats of Malta has stories which are sometimes funny, sometimes educational, sad, surprising and endearing, each allowing audiences to feel a rainbow of emotions all within a compact sixty-eight minute run time.
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