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As the Cannes Film Festival continues to be a centre stage for global cinema, it also shines a light on an unconventional set of star dogs. The Palm Dog Woopets awards, now in its 25th year, continues to honour the best performances by canines on screen. Established in 2001, the award is presented by a jury of film critics and includes categories that celebrate dogs in both live-action and animated films. The award ceremony will take place this year on May 23 at the La Plage du Festival restaurant. Winners receive a leather dog collar as the official prize.

The award was founded by UK-based cinema journalist Toby Rose. His idea was sparked by attending Cannes with his fox terrier, Mutt. Rose noticed that his dog was warmly received by celebrities and the public, which led him to realise Cannes was a dog-friendly space. In a 2024 interview with The New York Times, Rose said, “Cannes is a good place for dogs to get a showcase because the French have a very sensible approach to dogs.” He highlighted how dogs were welcome even in restaurants, unlike the norms in many Anglo-Saxon countries. The award’s name is a playful nod to Cannes’ prestigious Palme d’Or.

Over the years, the Palm Dog Woopets award has expanded into several categories. These include the main “Palm Dog” award for outstanding canine performance in both live-action and animated films, the “Mutt Moment” for the best short canine appearance, and the “Palm DogManitarian” for those contributing significantly to canine welfare. The diversity of categories reflects the award’s growing popularity and relevance.

Cannes 2025 | Credit: X

Since its inception, the award has seen high-profile moments. Otis, a shepherd-basenji mix, was the first recipient in 2001 for The Anniversary Party, with Jennifer Jason Leigh accepting the award. In 2019, Quentin Tarantino attended to support Brandy from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. In 2021, Tilda Swinton accepted the award for her three dogs—Rose, Dora, and Snowbear—for The Souvenir II. Uggie from The Artist received a posthumous award in 2020, while Dug from Up and Bruno from The Triplets of Belleville are among the celebrated animated winners.

The Palm Dog Woopets also honours real-life canine contributions. In 2022, a Jack Russell terrier named Patron received the DogManitarian award for detecting mines in Ukraine as part of the State Emergency Service. The award ceremony now includes international sponsors and media coverage, signalling that it has grown beyond novelty status. According to its website, the event is “a vibrant tribute to our four-legged friends and their unique contribution to cinema.”