Film, discussion mark Feral Cat Day

Event at the Guild benefits Albuquerque-based rescue group, Street Cat Hub

Friends of community cats will want to head over to The Guild Cinema next Saturday, Oct. 28, to not only take in a “thoughtful, beautifully filmed” documentary about the street cats of Istanbul, but learn about the work being done here to help street cats.

Boofy’s Best for Pets is presenting a special screening of the documentary film “Kedi” in honor of National Feral Cat Day. The event is a benefit for Street Cat Hub, says an event news release, so donations of cash, gift cards, canned or dry cat food, old towels, etc., are requested to aid Albuquerque street cats.

“Stick around for a postshow discussion about the work being done by Street Cat Hub in our community,” the release reads.

For those who haven’t seen the film “Kedi,” it’s described like this: “‘Kedi’ is not a documentary about house cats or the strays you occasionally see in your backyard. Kedi is a film about the hundreds of thousands of cats who have roamed the metropolis of Istanbul freely for thousands of years, wandering in and out of people’s lives, impacting them in ways only an animal who lives between the worlds of the wild and the tamed can. Cats and their kittens bring joy and purpose to those they choose, giving people an opportunity to reflect on life and their place in it. In Istanbul, cats are the mirrors to ourselves.”

Movie review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes says “Kedi is a cat fancier’s dream, but this thoughtful, beautifully filmed look at Istanbul’s street feline population offers absorbing viewing for filmgoers of any purr-suasion.”

The “Kedi” screening and benefit takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at The Guild Cinema, 3405 Central NE. Admission is $8. Tickets are available at the door only.