The Peabody Institute Library will be holding its inaugural Pet Video Festival at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 in the Main Library Tech Lab.
Submissions are open from now until Monday, Jan. 27 and are open to anybody who wants to feature their pet in a two minute or less video for the chance to win a pet-related prize.
Gabi Toth, PIL’s Senior Adult Services and Public Programming Librarian, came up with the idea after she and her partner attended a pet video showcase at the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline a couple years ago.
“It was a compilation of the year’s best pet videos, and I thought I could do sort of a miniature one at the library by asking community members to submit their videos,” Toth said.
Since putting it up earlier this week, she has already received two videos from local pet owners wanting to turn their four-legged best buddy into a star.
“I really wanted to bring the community together and do something in the winter that would be cozy and fun and not depressing in any way,” said Toth. “I felt like a February Saturday would be a good time for you know, it’s cold out, no one wants to do anything. Well, come hang out in the library and we’ll watch some pet videos.”
Although they aren’t eligible for the prize, library staff are also being asked to submit their own videos to the festival.
In fact, Toth’s own pets, two cats and two guinea pigs, all adopted from shelters, might find themselves being featured in Peabody’s first ever Pet Video Festival.
The festival is not just limited to Peabody residents either, meaning everyone has the chance to tape their furry, scaly, or feathered friends and share it with the animal-loving community.
To read the rules and submit a video, go to https://forms.gle/zQCUujGMJGP3upiM6. For any help with uploading a video call 978-531-0100 x17 or email gtoth@noblenet.org.
