Filmmaker Mye Hoang’s new documentary, CAT DADDIES premieres Sunday, Oct 10 at 3 pm in Screen 1 at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (1005 Botham Jean Blvd., Dallas, TX 75215) as a part of the Dallas International Film Festival – Oct 8-10. Born and raised in North Dallas, Hoang was the founder of the Asian Film Festival of Dallas and an SMU alum.
The film will also screen in October at the famed Newport Beach Film Festival, the stubbornly independent Tallgrass Film Festival, and in November at the Hawaii International Film Festival.
CAT DADDIES focuses on David Giovanni who is living on the streets of New York, determined to stay together with his beloved cat, Lucky. When he’s finally granted a spot in a transitional housing facility that accepts cats, the COVID-19 pandemic and a devastating medical diagnosis put his future together with Lucky in doubt.
David’s journey is interspersed with portraits of other “cat dads” from all over the country and some who struggle to navigate the unprecedented events of 2020 with their little furry friends. They include a group of firefighters, a stuntman, a truck driver, a Bay Area tech worker, a schoolteacher whose cat becomes a viral sensation, and an actor/Instagram influencer. These men couldn’t be more different, but they share an unconditional love for their beloved pets. CAT DADDIES is a refreshing and timely exploration of modern masculinity and the unlikely bond between man and cat.
SPARK OF THE DOCUMENTARY
Hoang’s husband and fellow filmmaker Dave Boyle, who also produced CAT DADDIES, initiated her fascination with cat dads. Hoang had always been a cat lover and Boyle was indifferent about animals when they met – until one day a cat showed up on Boyle’s doorstep and created an immediate close bond. As Boyle became a bonafide cat guy, Hoang noticed a transformation in Boyle and in their relationship. She wondered how many other men could also not know they love cats because they have been conditioned to love dogs. At the same time, a trend in cat dads on social media and Buzzfeed articles was exploding. Men and cats were becoming more accepted and even cool with hashtags like #catdad #menwithcats #hotguyswithcats and so forth.
The filming of CAT DADDIES which began in late 2019 was then interrupted in March 2020. The film inevitably took a slight shift in direction to address the ways in which the events of 2020 affected some of the cat dads and how their beloved pets became a source of healing and self-care. “I see Cat Daddies as both a collective portrait as well as a time capsule, documenting a challenging year in which people desperately needed hope, relief and companionship,” said Hoang.
About filmmaker, Mye Hoang:
Hoang is the former Executive Director of the Asian Film Festival of Dallas and former Artistic Director of the San Diego Asian Film Festival. She has directed numerous short films and produced several narrative features such as I WILL MAKE YOU MINE (SXSW 2020) and MAN FROM RENO (2015 Spirit Award nominee). She is a co-producer on the upcoming documentary feature ASHIMA (2022) featuring acclaimed Japanese American rock climber Ashima Shiraishi.
DETAILS FOR CAT DADDIES:
When: Oct. 10 at 3 p.m.
Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Cedars) 1005 Botham Jean Blvd, Dallas TX, 75215
Admission: $10
DIFF link: https://dallasfilm.org/film/cat-daddies
In-Person from Film at DIFF: Film director/producer, Mye Hoang and producer/editor Dave Boyle
Watch preview clips…
