Top canine stars from films like The Love That Remains, Sleepless City, and Sirat are early favorites for the Palm Dog 2025. This year, the competition celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Toby Rose, the London-based founder of the Palm Dog and the year-round awards called The Fidos, said it has been amazing to see how the Palm Dog has grown over the years. “It has become widely embraced at Cannes and beyond. We are now a regular part of the Cannes festival,” he said.
Thierry Fremaux, the head of Cannes, has been invited to attend but has not yet appeared. However, Fremaux did mention the Palm Dog in his memoir. Rose noted, “His recognition of the Palm Dog is a great honor.”
Other canine contenders this year include Bocuse from the opening film Leave One Day, and Indy, who plays the leading role in the market thriller Good Boy.
Each year, Rose and a jury of film critics select three winners: the Palm Dog, the Jury Award, and the PalmDogManitarian prize. The latter honors dogs who serve important roles, such as Patron, a Ukrainian bomb-sniffing dog who won in 2022 and received a collar sent to him in Kiev.
Over the years, there have been many memorable moments. Quentin Tarantino accepted the branded collar for Brandy in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Actress Tilda Swinton wore the collar when her family’s dogs were honored for The Souvenir Part II. In 2024, the canine actors Kodi from Dog On Trial and Little Xin from Black Dog attended the ceremony.
Last year, Messi from Anatomy Of A Fall won the Palm Dog just a day before the film won the Palme d’Or. Messi later appeared at the Oscars.
More than 200 guests are expected to attend the invitation-only prize ceremony at The Members’ Club on May 23. To celebrate the special anniversary, Rose hopes to gather 25 dogs on stage for a group photo. He anticipates a full house, even if organizing it is “a wild rodeo.” “People really enjoy celebrating dogs on screen,” he said.
While scouting in Cannes, Rose also finds local dogs that look like the winners. These lookalike dogs attend the ceremony when the original canine stars cannot travel to the French Riviera.
“We bring local dogs that resemble the Palm Dog winners to add to the atmosphere,” Rose explained. “Many owners have a bit of showbiz spirit. The Palm Dog ceremony is the most dog-friendly event at Cannes. People love celebrating dogs in film.”
Although the event is fun, Rose takes it seriously. “When editing a film, every scene counts. Dog scenes are important because they add to the movie. Since these scenes are essential, we apply critical judgment to them.”
Dogs can shine in different ways. Some perform impressive tricks and steal scenes, like Uggie in 2011’s The Artist. Others have a steady, quiet presence, like Panda in The Love That Remains.
“Panda is part of the family. The dog is always there when the family is there. That feels real,” Rose said.
In Sirat, Pipa travels with his owners on a long road trip through Southern Morocco. Some dogs even lead the story, such as the 2014 winner White God or this year’s market thriller Good Boy. Rose said, “Indy is sensational – the dog leads the entire film.”
The Palm Dog partners with WooPets and Creature Clothes. This year, the event also features a fashion tie-in. Hermes has released a scarf honoring Rose’s late wire-haired fox terrier, Mutley, who inspired the Palm Dog award many years ago. The scarf will be showcased at this year’s ceremony.
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