The biggest stars of the internet are set to hit the red carpet in Toronto. YouTube celebrities Lil BUB, Grumpy Cat, keyboard cat, stalking cat, nyan cat, kittens inspired by kittens and of course NONONONO cat (video below) will be among those featured next month at the Just for Cats: Internet Cat Video Festival.
And, the special guest host? Laureen Harper, best known as the wife of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, but also well-known as humane society volunteer and cat foster-mom. She was honoured for her “exceptional animal welfare efforts” with the Humane Society of Canada‘s 2011 Heroes for Animals Lifetime Achievement Award. The Harpers have fostered more than 160 cats and have three rescue cats, Cartier, Gypsy and Stanley, in permanent residence at 24 Sussex Drive. The family also has a pet chinchilla named Charlie, who was featured on their 2013 holiday card.
The Just for Cats film event is co-presented with the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and is “the first-ever festival devoted to the best in cat-themed YouTube videos” will make its Toronto debut at TIFF Bell Lightbox. (The inaugural event was actually held in Minnesota last year.)
Before the screening on April 17, the Toronto Humane Society will host an adopt-a-thon in the atrium of the theatre. The festival will tour other Canadian cities including Montreal, Vancouver and Regina.
Who said the internet was a total waste of time? Now, excuse me while I find more cat videos to placate my begging preschooler.
h/t Huffington Post, Photos PMO, TIFF Bell Lightbox