The Catdance Film Festival Winner is ... "Ricky"

UCLA MFA Candidate and Filmmaker Simon Savelyev Receives $50,000 Grand Prize and the Coveted Golden Litter Scoop

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Mar 20, 2014, 10:00 ET

OAKLAND, Calif., March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- After thousands of votes and film views, the cat film cognoscenti has spoken. The Fresh Step Catdance Film Festival viewer's choice winner in the category of best scripted, original cat film is "Ricky." Filmmaker Simon Savelyev will walk away with a kitty of $50,000 for his adorable story about a shelter cat that finds its forever home and makes friends with the most unlikely of character, Romy the dog. The unscripted narration from Savelyev's 7-year-old neighbor gave the shelter cat a voice that captured hearts nationwide.

With the help of the Feline Arts Council, which is comprised of some of the utmost authorities on cat culture, five cat-inspired films from a nationwide search were selected and screened in 3D in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 18 as part of the Catdance Film Festival. Then America voted for its favorite feline film. The competition among all five finalist cat-inspired films was an exciting end to a year where cat film continued to leap from the shadows of the Internet to take its rightful place as a centerpiece of American culture. As part of the program, the makers of Fresh Step litter screened honorable mention cat films; all films can be seen on YouTube and at FreshStep.com.

"We recognized that our feline friends are more than just a popular internet meme, so we brought cats to the epicenter of independent film to receive the prestige and critical acclaim they so deserve," said Smita Peri, brand manager for Fresh Step litter. "The quality and variety of films inspired by the smart and quirky nature of cats that we received – and the enthusiastic response from cat lovers – just prove that cat films are now an established and celebrated genre in the film world."

Actor and one of America's sexiest cat lovers, Gilles Marini, took the stage at the Catdance Film Festival to introduce "Ricky" and the other finalist films, which spanned the spectrum of genres, including a drama where a cat plots to outsmart his family in "The Clever Cat," a detective story in "who done it" noir style in "Dirty Paws: A Feline Noir," a music video about a feline fantasy world in "Dreams are Real," and a comedy about a couple who inherits a cat from a deceased relative with persnickety stipulations in "The Inheritance." 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 was honored to be chosen as a Catdance Film Festival finalist and I am even more honored that feline fans everywhere picked 'Ricky' as their favorite," said Savelyev. "I plan to continue creating cat-inspired films for all cat lovers to enjoy, as well as donate a portion of my winnings to a local shelter and the college fund of my neighbor who lent her sweet voice to the film."

Rocking Kitty Couture for a Cause
In addition to unveiling the finalist films at the Catdance Film Festival, Marini also debuted the latest in feline fashion to benefit the ASPCA^®(The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®). Striking a pose on the catwalk, Marini wore a limited-edition Catdance Film Festival T-shirt. The soft vintage scoop neck tee features a cool cat sporting 3D shades. It's heather gray and available in men's and women's sizes. The official Catdance Film Festival tee is still available for purchase at www.aspcaonlinestore.com for $19.99 while supplies last, and 100 percent of the purchase price will benefit 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 2013 revenues of $5.6 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 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 2013, The Clorox Company Foundation awarded $4 million in cash grants, and Clorox made product donations valued at nearly $15 million. For more information, visit TheCloroxCompany.com.

About the ASPCA^®Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation's leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA's mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

*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