The Cat Man Eshete is a 25-minute documentary by Oscar® nominee Laura Checkoway. It follows Eshete, a refugee from Ethiopia who finds healing and purpose through caring for a feral cat colony in Brooklyn. Streaming globally via Al Jazeera’s Witness series, this film is a powerful, poetic portrait of survival, compassion, and the quiet strength of community care.
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The Cat Man Eshete: A Powerful Story About Refuge, Cats and Community
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.
When I first watched The Cat Man Eshete, I didn’t expect it to move me so deeply. But there I was – quiet, teary-eyed, heart wide open. As someone who knows how healing cats can be, and how fragile life feels when you’ve left home behind, Eshete’s story reached straight into my soul.
This isn’t just a film about cats – it’s about surviving with dignity, loving without conditions, and finding meaning in the most unexpected places.
Premiering globally on June 16, just ahead of World Refugee Day (June 20), this film will stream via Al Jazeera English’s award-winning series, Witness, and reach audiences in the U.S., Canada, and worldwide.
It also had its Brooklyn premiere on June 4 at the Brooklyn Film Festival.
Watch the Official Trailer for The Cat Man Eshete
From Ethiopia to Brooklyn
The Cat Man Eshete tells the story of Eshete, a man who escaped Ethiopia’s civil war on foot as a young man and has now lived in New York for nearly 40 years. Despite being a refugee and experiencing the ongoing weight of PTSD, Eshete has become the devoted caretaker of a feral cat colony in Brooklyn.
He’s also become a beloved figure in the neighborhood – part guardian, part philosopher, and entirely human. With humor, wisdom, and deep empathy, Eshete has built a quiet life around healing – for both himself and the animals he cares for.
A Personal Story with Global Relevance
Eshete’s personal story is set against the backdrop of today’s global refugee crisis. With 1 in 100 people expected to become refugees in the near future and U.S. homelessness up by 15% over the last five years, The Cat Man Eshete touches on urgent realities.
Refugees and people who’ve experienced homelessness are 30% more likely to suffer from PTSD, and for many – like Eshete – animals provide emotional grounding and therapeutic support.
This film isn’t just about cats. It’s about community, survival, and radical empathy.
Eshete’s story may be deeply personal, but it mirrors the emotional lives of countless others navigating displacement, trauma, and the need to belong – even if that belonging comes through a purring companion with whiskers and a wild name like Rocket Girl.
Short Interview with Laura Checkoway and Eshete
I am honored to include a special short interview conducted for Cats Magazine with Laura Checkoway and Eshete.
With warm thanks to Brian Geldin PR for making this conversation possible.
You mentioned in the press release that the story started with a simple “hello.” Could you tell more about how that first meeting unfolded and what drew you in?
I was walking in my neighborhood in Brooklyn and a man surrounded with cats said hello and our eyes met. We started talking and haven’t stopped since. Eshete is a very deep soul and I was drawn to that.
The use of 16mm in Ethiopia is incredibly evocative. Was it difficult to source it? What did that analog texture mean to you in the context of memory and trauma?
Eshete has an incredibly vivid dream life and memory. He often describes his happy childhood in a big loving family in Ethiopia, which he calls paradise and heaven on Earth, before the war. Our DOP Greg Harriott filmed Eshete’s dreams on 16mm in Eshete’s hometown Gondar, and I’m so glad we chose 16mm to add that evocative texture that you noted.
This film touches on PTSD, homelessness, community care, and human-animal bonds – yet it never feels didactic. How did you balance telling such a layered story with such grace?
Thank you for recognizing all of these themes. I like telling multilayered, immersive character portraits that embody bigger issues, and letting stories unfold naturally. Even though Eshete has trauma and grief, the authenticity and love emanating from him and everyone in our film is very heartwarming and balances it.
What has surprised you most about the way audiences are responding to the film?
It’s been wonderful that audiences are so moved by it, and to learn that there are also some laugh out loud moments. While editing, I wondered if people would find certain scenes amusing, and at our premiere in NYC, I was surprised at how much the audience erupted in laughter.
And – I have to ask – the cat names! Were they all Eshete’s inventions? Did any of the cats steal the show for you behind the scenes?
Eshete: Yes, my invention. People I admire in history and places. Einstein was based on his personality, super intelligent, genius cat. George Washington because I admire the first American president. Eisenhower, Winston Churchill, Patrice Lumumba, Castro. Oprah – I thought he was a girl but he’s a boy.
Nubia means the Sudan. Mrs Ethiopia is named after my country and I also call her Rocket Girl because she’s so fast, her temptation is to fly. Like engine fire, she want to shoot like a rocket. (laughs) Rico, my favorite cat – I gave him the name because I love Puerto Ricans, my friends, so I named him in honor of them. I loved Rico like my mom! When Rico died I felt it was the end of the world because I loved him beyond comprehension.
Watch the Film
- Streaming worldwide on Al Jazeera English’s Witness: aljazeera.com/program/witness
- Streaming starts June 16, 2025
- 🇺🇸 Available in the U.S., Canada, and globally
- Brooklyn Premiere: June 4 at 6:00 p.m. ET, Windmill Studios, Brooklyn Film Festival
Meet the Team Behind the Film
Directed & Produced by: Laura Checkoway
Produced by: Margo Mars, Thomas Lee Wright
Edited by: Kevin Doherty
Director of Photography: Greg Harriott
Cinematographer: John Larson
Sound Design & Mix: Udit Duseja
Original Score: William Wilcox
Impact Producer: Jessica Green
Featuring: Eshete, Robert, Diane, Jeneane, Anthony, and Steve
And the unforgettable cats: Horizon, Gorgeous, George Washington, Doodles, Junior, Frank Sinatra, Jesse Jackson, Winston Churchill, Castro, Patrice Lumumba, Princess Diana, Albert Einstein, Oprah, Squirt, Nubia, Sheba, Piggy, Animation, Dragon Lady, Ms. Ethiopia the Rocket Girl, Damascus, and Rico.
About the Director
Laura Checkoway is renowned for her emotionally rich, character-driven documentaries. Her previous work includes:
- The Cave of Adullam (2023) – Tribeca Winner
- Edith+Eddie (2017) – Academy Award® & Emmy nominee, IDA Award winner
- Lucky (2014) – DOC NYC, HOTDOCS selection
Learn more: lauracheckoway.com
Instagram: @laurachecks
About Lief & Margo Mars
Lief is a female-led, award-winning production company founded by Margo Mars, known for bold, human-centered storytelling. Lief champions diverse voices and works that redefine culture. Learn more: lief.studio
Instagram: @we.are.lief
More Than Just a Cat Story
The Cat Man Eshete is a story that lingers. It’s quiet, yet unforgettable – a reminder that healing can come through shared food bowls, sidewalk conversations, and names like Rico and Nubia whispered with love.
I’m grateful to Laura, Eshete, and Brian for allowing Cats Magazine to share this glimpse into a life shaped by loss – and softened by cats. Don’t miss it.
Have your own rescue story? Share it here.
