Byron Bay International Film Festival (AU) Selects KATLANDIA!
After discovering 20,000 ways not to write Katlandia, I finally found the one way that works — and it just got accepted into an International Film Festival Festival Screenplay Competition! After 20 years – I’ve got a feline-powered fantasy that finally pounced into the spotlight.
Katlandia: Tale of the Watch Cat has been named a Finalist at the Byron Bay International Film Festival, Austrailia!
This story began, quite simply, with the idea that courage, kindness, and wonder still matter — that even in dark times, a spark of imagination can light the way.
Now, to have Katlandia recognized by a festival as visionary and soulful as Byron Bay feels like the universe whispering, keep going — the cats are with you.
About the Story
Katlandia – Tail of the Watch Cat is a family fantasy in the tradition of Spirited Away and The Chronicles of Narnia.
In a hidden kingdom where cats rule and magic is real, a young English girl forms an unbreakable bond with a talking cat who sees into her soul. Thrust into an ancient quest she never imagined, she discovers that true courage and heart can conquer even the darkest forces—and that love and the longing for freedom will always find a way to shine through.
“Of all the things you desire … desire to be brave.”
Thank You, Byron Bay
To the entire Byron Bay Film Festival team — thank you for championing independent storytellers, dreamers, and cat lovers alike.
You remind us that imagination is alive and well — and that every dream deserves its moment in the sun.
Here’s to everyone who believed in this journey — and to the cats of Katlandia, who remind us that love and courage will always overcome darkness.
With gratitude and joy,
Richard Oshen
🐱 Writer | Creator | Cat Father