Forget Brangelina. The biggest star of the Cannes Film Festival this year is Midge, a 12-year-old from the UK. But you won’t find her on the red carpet. Midge, a one-eyed calico from village of Wrose in Shipley, stayed at home in West Yorkshire while her owner and racing partner, Martin Humphreys, attends screenings of Midge’s movie, The Great Race, in Cannes.

Humphreys financed the movie with £1,000 he won in a workplace competition for employees to fulfill a dream. He proposed making a film about Midge’s peculiar talent for racing: she’s the feline equivalent of Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt.

Now, some would argue that with four legs, Midge has the advantage over Humphreys, and so far, that’s proven to be the case. She’s a fierce competitor who turns on the turbo when she spies Martin gaining on her — out of her one remaining eye.

Incredibly, the resulting film, The Great Race, was selected for the Short Film Corner at Cannes and Mr Humphreys, who wrote, directed and penned the theme song for the eight-minute production, is flying to the south of France to show it to Hollywood executives. It is believed to be the lowest budget offering at the festival. By comparison, the highly touted opening night film, Pixar’s Up, cost $150 million to make.

Humphreys is clearly besotted with Midge: “I got Midge from a rescue centre 12 years ago and we have been running together for about five years. It began when I went to the local shop and she would follow me. On one occasion I ran back and she accelerated and wouldn’t let me beat her. That’s when we started racing. People stare because cats aren’t supposed to do this, but she races me every time.”

He starts each race officially, with a whistle, which is Midge’s cue to get set and go. He spent several weeks in training for The Great Race’s climactic sprint, which he’s billed as “the ultimate showdown” between cat and man.

Humphreys hopes that studio bosses will spot Midge’s star potential.

“My dream is for The Great Race to be picked up and turned into a full length feature film. Midge has acting talent. I can see her getting involved in car chases, getting kidnapped – it has the potential to be the greatest children’s film ever.”

Mr Humphreys would like to make a sequel in which Midge races Olympic 100m champion and world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt. He’s convinced she would win.

Good luck on bringing home the Palme d’Or, Midge!

• Watch a BBC profile of Martin and Midge.
• Watch the trailer for The Great Race

Blade, a Nottingham cat, sent this story our way. If you see a story that might be purrfect for The Cat’s Meow, please let Skeezix know by pmail or email.

[LINK/PHOTO: The Daily Mail]

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