Contest: The Friskies

Films have the OSCARS®. Music has the GRAMMY Awards®. Cat videos have The Friskies.

Cat video creators everywhere are encouraged to put their most entertaining and funniest content on display as the 2^nd Annual “The Friskies”, the major award show for best new internet cat videos of the year, is back. The Call for Entries is open now through July 15, 2013. Cat video creators may upload videos up to two minutes in length at www.TheFriskies.com in one of four categories:

• Cat Comedy: Your cat(s) in an humorous situation   
  
• Catventure: An indoor cat adventure     
  
• Rescue Cat:  Your cat(s) adopted from a rescue group or shelter enjoying life
• Pursuit of Food/Treat: Your cat(s) pursuing or engaging with their cat food or treat(s)

A total of $25,000 in cash prizes will be awarded amongst winners in four categories and the popular Fan Favorite from 12 finalists as well as a custom-made gold plated Friskies Catuette. The 20 Semi-Finalists will be awarded a one-year supply of Friskies cat food and Friskies® Party Mix brand cat treats. The Semi-Finalists will be announced August 6, 2013 to kick off the public voting phase of the Contest. Cat video fans will have the opportunity to view, share and vote (limit one (1) vote per entry/per person/e-mail address per day) for their favorite Semi-Finalists’ videos through noon ET September 16, 2013. Based on the popular public vote, the top three from each category will be named Finalists, and will win a trip to New York City to take part in the Friskies Award Show October 15, 2013, live from New York City. One winner from each of the four categories will be announced during the show, and will receive a Friskies Catuette and a $5,000 cash prize. One Fan Favorite will be named based on public text vote on the day of the Award Show, and will receive a Friskies Catuette and a $5,000 cash prize.

All entries will be evaluated by an eclectic panel of judges with strong ties to popular cat culture. Judges will evaluate each entry using the following criteria to select 20 Semi-Finalists, five from each category: originality & overall artistic impression (25%), audience appeal & entertainment quality (25%), sense that there’s a story being told (25%), and portraying cat’s perspective (25%). 

 The 2013 “The Friskies” judging panel includes:

·         Will Braden: Creator of “Henri le Chat Noir”

·         Mick Szydlowski: 2012 “The Friskies” Grand Prize Winner for “Oskar’s First Toys”

·         Abbie Moore: Executive Director, Adopt-a-Pet.com