A three-minute video of a blind kitten named Oskar won the grand prize at the first annual Friskies awards in Los Angeles last month.
Mick Szydlowski, who filmed the video “Oskar’s First Toys,” received the $15,000 Grand Prize, “Cat-uette,” and a year’s supply of cat food. Szydlowski and his girlfriend, Bethany, shot the video of their eyeless cat after they adopted him in 2011. The feline is completely blind as the result of a birth defect.
The four runner-up, sub-category winners (see below) were each awarded with $2,500 and a year’s supply of cat food. Friskies also donated 25,000 cans of its brand-name food to 25 cat rescue organizations in the U.S.
The Friskies received more than 1,400 video submissions this year; winners were chosen by a four-member panel of industry experts and personalities.
The complete list of nominees and winners (* designates the winner in that category):
Catchall (Miscellaneous):
“The Cat Lady’s Song About Cats” (starring Bean, Boo, Buster, Dewey, and Zipper): Directed by Joe Binetti; Los Angeles, Calif.
“The Foot!” (starring Mika): Directed by Jonathan D’Ambrosio; Clarkston, Mich.
*”Kitty Plays Fetch” (starring Nylah): Directed by Jesse Wellens; Cherry Hill, N.J.
Catcom (Cat Comedy):
“Attack of the Ninja Cat!” (starring Lulu): Directed by Carlotta Millwee; Placerville, Calif.
“Bonkers” (starring Bonkers): Directed by Cat Boyce; Huntersville, N.C.
*”Cat Alarm Clock” (Boo): Directed by Weslley Cavalcante; Elkhart, Ind.
Catness (Cat Behavior):
*”Black Cat Stick ’em Up!!” (starring Cole): Directed by Jessica Josephs; Tampa, Fla.
“Oskar’s First Toys” (starring Oskar): Directed by Mick Szydlowski; Omaha, Neb.
“Which Way Did It Go?” (starring Bailey, Billy, Chelsey, Gabby, Jessy, Lucy, Micky, Midnight, and Zoey): Directed by Russ Kawecki; Fraser, Mich.
Catventure (Indoor Cat Adventure):
“Amazing Kitten Fetch” (starring Hyder): Directed by Djamila
*”Cardboard Dreams” (starring Bates, Barrett, Milo, and Otis): Directed by Wendy Woody; Plano, Texas
“Kate is…Accused” (starring starring Allie, Austin, Bus, Cathy, Clooney, Cody, Ernie, Katie, Keisha, Kjelle, Mario, Nellie, Twix, Wally, and Zoey): Directed by Debbie Glovatsky; Minneapolis, Minn.
Grand Prize:
“Amazing Kitten Fetch” (starring Hyder): Directed by Djamila
“Attack of the Ninja Cat!” (starring Lulu): Directed by Carlotta Millwee; Placerville, Calif.
“Bonkers” (starring Bonkers): Directed by Cat Boyce; Huntersville, N.C.
“The Cat Lady’s Song About Cats” (starring Bean, Boo, Buster, Dewey, and Zipper): Directed by Joe Binetti; Los Angeles, Calif.
“The Foot!” (starring Mika): Directed by Jonathan D’Ambrosio; Clarkston, Mich.
“Kate is…Accused” (starring starring Allie, Austin, Bus, Cathy, Clooney, Cody, Ernie, Katie, Keisha, Kjelle, Mario, Nellie, Twix, Wally, and Zoey): Directed by Debbie Glovatsky; Minneapolis, Minn.
*“Oskar’s First Toys” (starring Oskar): Directed by Mick Szydlowski; Omaha, Neb.
“Which Way Did It Go?” (starring Bailey, Billy, Chelsey, Gabby, Jessy, Lucy, Micky, Midnight, and Zoey): Directed by Russ Kawecki; Fraser, Mich.
