25 Cats from Qatar

Qatar is one of the world’s wealthiest nations, and its rapid growth is powered by migrant workers who make 89% of the population. But underneath the luxurious surface lies an overwhelming street cat population where disease is rampant, the heat is extreme, and expats are burdened to help the struggling felines. 

When an American flight attendant and cat cafe owner becomes aware of the crisis, she hatches a plan to fly 25 cats to Milwaukee, where her cat cafe provides a pipeline for adoption. 

Presenting a microcosm of a global crisis, the film asks searching questions about animal welfare, all within a ticking-clock narrative about the nuts and bolts of a rescue mission. It is both an urgent wake-up call and a heartwarming story of overcoming international barriers for a common goal.

Part of the FRESH PRODUCE series, a program that finds new and compelling independent cinema from the festival circuit and brings those films to Portland audiences. Hosted by Portland film curator Greg Hamilton.