Gokogu is a small, ancient Shinto shrine in Ushimado, Japan. Home to dozens of street cats, it is also known as Cat Shrine.

While Gokogu looks peaceful on the surface, it is also the epicentre of a sensitive issue that divides the local community, as some residents care for them while others complain about the waste that they leave around the neighbourhood.

A meditative exercise in filmmaking, THE CATS OF GOKOGU SHRINE is a joyous and thought-provoking observation of coexistence that premiered to great acclaim at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival.

Japanese language, English subtitles.