“Traveling This Road Together,” set in the Colorado Rockies during the pandemic, is a touching story that follows a woman and her dog who help each other to heal after they have both survived cancer; this is just one of many canine-centered films featured in the ninth annual New York Dog Film Festival, which will be presented on Saturday at IU Cinema. The festival, distributed by CINEkids International Children’s Film Series, will begin at 4 p.m. and serve as a fundraiser for local animals in need.
The festival premieres each November at the Angelika Theater in Manhattan and then travels to theaters throughout the United States and Canada the following year. Funds from the event in each location it is shown serve to benefit local dog rescue programs. This year, the festival is sponsored by Purina Dog Chow.
The festival will be a celebration of the bond between dogs and people through film. The program will feature a selection of short films of different genres which all center around dogs, with titles such as “Traveling This Road Together,” directed by Mutual Rescue; “To Comfort & Serve,” directed by Ron and Amy Schmidt and “Love Another” directed by Diana Rousseau. The program is curated by NPR host and festival founder Tracie Hotchner.
This year’s festival also features a film category called “Service Dog Salute,” which will showcase films that honor veterans who have been positively impacted by their service dogs who have been specifically trained to help those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Tickets to attend the event will be sold online for $5, and 10% of each sale will go directly to the Monroe County Humane Association.
