The Fresh Step Catdance Film Festival Golden Litter Scoop Goes to "A Change of Heart"

OAKLAND, Calif., March 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- After nearly 100,000 votes and more than 1 million film views, the cat film cognoscenti has spoken.  

The viewer's choice winner in the category of best scripted, original cat film is "A Change of Heart."  Filmmaker Balbinka Korzeniowska will walk away with a kitty of $10,000 for her clever story that showed that cat love defies stereotypes.  Korzeniowska's film edged out 1950s-style educational film strip spoof "A Cat's Guide to Caring for a Human" by just over 1,300 votes.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130312/SF75183)

The back and forth competition between the two films provided an exciting end to a year where the cat film leapt from the shadows of the Internet and took its rightful place as a centerpiece of American culture. 

The Fresh Step Catdance Film Festival* was at the heart of this change for cat films.  The makers of Fresh Step litter debuted five original feline flicks in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 19 and then asked America to select its favorite feline film.  The voting was part of a larger effort to take the Internet phenomenon of cat videos to a higher level.  As part of the program, the makers of Fresh Step litter screened a total of 17 original scripted cat films on YouTube and FreshStep.com.

"While people love camera phone videos of playful kitties, we thought the time was right to task talented filmmakers with creating the Cat Film genre," said David Kargas, a spokesperson for Fresh Step litter.  "And the filmmakers didn't let us down.  The quality of films we received – and the enthusiastic response from cat lovers – just prove that the day is coming when cat films take their rightful place as a celebrated genre in the film world."

Actress and cat lover AnnaLynne McCord took the stage at the Catdance Film Festival to introduce "A Change of Heart" and the other finalist films, which spanned the spectrum of genres, including a comedy with a twist in "Catalogue," a mock biography of an aging YouTube sensation in "Fallen Star," an animated film that pulled at the heartstrings in "Dear Rocky," and a how-to video with a spin in "A Cat's Guide to Caring for a Human." While the critically acclaimed cat shorts screened at Catdance each had their moment at the festival, the fans at home watched and voted for their favorite film through Feb. 28.  

"I've always wanted to make a film featuring one of my favorite things in the world – cats – and I was excited that the Catdance Film Festival gave me the stage I needed to do so," said Korzeniowska. "For me, it was prize enough to be selected as a finalist and to debut my film at the Catdance event in Park City, but now that I have won… well, the cat's got my tongue. All I can say is this is for all the cat lovers out there who were looking for more from the everyday cat videos. And to further express my love for cats, I'm going to donate a portion of the prize to the ASPCA."

The Clorox Company

The Clorox Company is a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products with approximately 8,400 employees and fiscal year 2012 revenues of $5.5 billion. Clorox markets some of the most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products, Clorox Healthcare™, HealthLink®, Aplicare® and Dispatch® products, Green Works® naturally derived home care products, Pine-Sol® cleaners, Poett® home care products, Fresh Step® cat litter, Glad® bags, wraps and containers, Kingsford® charcoal, Hidden Valley® and KC Masterpiece® dressings and sauces, Brita® water-filtration products, and Burt's Bees® and gud® natural personal care products. Nearly 90 percent of the company's brands hold the No. 1 or No. 2 market share positions in their categories. Clorox's commitment to corporate responsibility includes making a positive difference in its communities. In fiscal year 2012, The Clorox Company Foundation awarded $3.5 million in cash grants, and Clorox made product donations valued at $15 million. For more information, visit TheCloroxCompany.com.

*The makers of Fresh Step litter hosted the screening and used the Catdance Film Festival name with permission, but was not an official sponsor of the Sundance Film Festival

Media Contacts: David Kargas, Clorox
510.271.7492 [email protected]

Apryl Ash, PDC PR
614.439.7596
[email protected]

SOURCE Fresh Step Litter