The extraordinary story of Eshete, who escaped Ethiopia’s civil war to save his life as a young man and is now a devoted caretaker of a feral cat colony in Brooklyn.
2025 / 25 minutes / Credit: Director, Producer

WINNER Kitfo Film Festival - Best Short Documentary
WINNER Charlotte Film Festival - Best Short Documentary
WINNER Charlotte Film Festival - Audience Award

Reviews:

“The Cat Man Eshete is first a love story.” - OkayAfrica

“There are stories that whisper gently at first – until they change how we see the world. The Cat Man Eshete, a 25-minute documentary directed by Academy Award® nominee Laura Checkoway (Edith+Eddie), is exactly that kind of story.” - Cats Magazine

“[Checkoway] once again proves she knows how to find real emotion in real life, without needing to dress it up.” - Screen Radar

“A psychological character study — one worthy of repeat viewings” - Vague Visages

“Sweet-natured, gently moving” - This Week in New York

“This is definitely one to search out.” - Unseen Films