NEW YORK - Marylandian -- The 10th Annual NY Dog Film Festival & 8th Annual NY Cat Film Festival are coming to the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater at Symphony Space in New York City this October, promising heartwarming films and an opportunity to support the premieres' nonprofit partner, Animal Lighthouse Rescue (ALR), which provides shelter and medical treatment to dogs and cats in Puerto Rico, then transports them to New York for adoption.

The two-hour NY Dog Film Festival, now in its 10th year, celebrates the love between canines and their people as seen in a medley of 17 short films selected from over 64 submissions from filmmakers in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Egypt, Germany, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, Switzerland, and the UK.

The two-hour NY Cat Film Festival explores the fascinating felines that share our lives through 21 short films chosen from over 70 submissions from filmmakers in the United States, Australia, Canada, Croatia, Ecuador, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Russian Federation, Taiwan, UAE, and Uzbekistan.

With the twin goals of celebrating animal companionship through film and raising critical funds for rescue operations, this year's Festivals are more than entertainment – they are lifesavers. Audiences will enjoy dozens of touching, inspiring short films – narrative, documentary, and animated – from around the world, while contributing directly to the welfare of vulnerable animals by supporting organizations such as Animal Lighthouse Rescue.

In celebration of the NYC premieres, there will be a VIP (Very Important Pet) Pooch & Pussy Cat Party on Saturday, October 25 at the iconic Prohibition bar on the Upper West Side. Dogs will be welcome!

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Event details

NYC Premiere of the 10th Annual NY Dog & 8th Annual NY Cat Film Festivals
When: Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 11:00 AM (cats) and 2:00 PM (dogs)
Where: Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater at Symphony Space, Broadway at 95th Street, NYC
Tickets: Cats - https://www.symphonyspace.org/events/vp-ny-cat-film-festival
Dogs - https://www.symphonyspace.org/events/vp-ny-dog-film-festival
What: A curated, international selection of short films – narrative, documentary, and animated – celebrating the special connection between dogs and cats and their humans.
50% of ticket sales from these screenings will go to Animal Lighthouse Rescue.

VIP Pooch & Pussy Cat Party
When: Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Where: Prohibition, 503 Columbus Avenue between 84th and 85th Street, NYC
Tickets: https://auctria.events/ALRfilmfestparty (only100 tickets available at $100 each)
What: A celebratory gathering featuring local animal portraitists, nationally-renowned animal communicators, photo opportunities, raffles, swag bags, and more. Well-behaved dogs welcome!
100% of ticket sales from this party will benefit Animal Lighthouse Rescue.

Additional highlights

• The NY Dog Film Festival includes two prize-winning films in the Purina Dog Chow Service Dog Salute category, showcasing veterans with PTSD whose lives have been transformed by specially trained service dogs.  
• After the NYC premiere, both Festivals will tour theaters across the US in 2026, bringing the message and mission to even more communities.
• At the VIP Pooch & Pussy Cat Party, three renowned animal communicators, who are directors of The Animal Communication Collective^TM, will be flying in from Mississippi (Meredith Tollison), Michigan (Julie Hirt), and Massachusetts (ACC Founder Karen Dendy-Smith) to support the cause by offering intuitive readings for party-goers. These women co-host The Animal Communication Podcast and are Certified Soul Level Animal Communicators®, Certified Soul Level Intuitive Coaches®, and teaching assistants for the Danielle MacKinnon School where they met and studied Animal Communication.

About the NY Dog and NY Cat Film Festivals
Presented by Tracie Hotchner's Pet Media Inc., the NY Dog & NY Cat Film Festivals are a philanthropic celebration honoring the bond between humans and their animal companions. Each Festival features short films from around the world – narrative, documentary, and animated – aimed to entertain and inspire the audience, with a share of ticket proceeds going to rescue organizations in every city the Festivals visit. Learn more at https://www.dogfilmfestival.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook.

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About Animal Lighthouse Rescue
Animal Lighthouse Rescue (ALR) is the nonprofit partner for the premiere of the NY Dog & NY Cat Film Festivals and the VIP Pooch & Pussy Cat Party. ALR focuses on rescuing cats and dogs known as "satos" from Puerto Rico, arranging transport, medical care, fostering, and ultimately finding loving forever homes. Learn more at https://www.alrcares.com/ and follow on Instagram and Facebook.

Quote
"I am delighted to mark the 10th anniversary of the NY Dog Film Festival with our nonprofit partner Animal Lighthouse Rescue who over a decade has saved thousands of Puerto Rican dog and cat lives. While the audience will be uplifted by the medley of international short films, every ticket sold translates to hope, and a second chance for animals in need."
— Tracie Hotchner, Founder & Director of the NY Dog & NY Cat Film Festivals