Panda, an Icelandic sheepdog, received the highest award for his moving performance in the film “The Last of the Dogmen” by director Hlynur Pálmason at the 25th edition of the Palm Dog Awards. This iconic event on the Croisette takes place the day before the Palme d’Or is awarded.
On Friday, May 23, at 1 p.m., at La Plage du Festival, you can hear happy barking. And for good reason, our four-legged friends are the stars of the Croisette today! Dog lovers, film buffs, and journalists are all in attendance. Some are accompanied by their pets. The atmosphere is joyful and relaxed, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for glamour. All the participants are eager to find out who will be the lucky winner of the 25th edition of the Palm Dog, organized by the media outlet Woopets.
Presented the day before the Palme d’Or, the Palm Dog (an amusing play on words where a single letter is replaced) may raise a smile, but it is a very serious award! Just like famous actors, dogs are also entitled to their Palme d’Or. The Palm Dog rewards a canine performance on the big screen. It’s not such a far-fetched idea, as many films feature one or more dogs in their storylines. Who doesn’t remember the emotional film Lassie and its many remakes? A global success!
A feature film with a canine star requires prior casting, learning abilities… and enormous patience during the shooting sequences.
It was Toby Rose, an eccentric British journalist, who came up with the original idea of creating the Palm Dog 25 years ago to honor the talent of his fox terrier, Mutt. For this new edition, he sets the scene: “We are paying tribute to four-legged animals so that they can express themselves before the long dresses and tuxedos take over.”
Anthony Pruvost has been the very discreet owner of the Palm Dog since 2023. Based in Arras, he is the founder of Woopets, the French media outlet dedicated to pets, with Alexandre Dieu as its editor-in-chief. The platform features daily news, expert advice, practical guides, and information sheets on different breeds.
Anthony Pruvost explains: “This ceremony raises awareness of animal welfare while highlighting the important place they hold in cinema and in our daily lives. In addition to the performance, the jury examines the filming conditions, during which the physical and psychological well-being of the dog is a priority.”
So it was Panda (same name off screen) who won the 2025 Palm Dog. He stood out for his remarkable performance in the drama “The Love That Remains” (Astin Sem Eftir Er, in the original version) by director Hlynur Pálmason, 40, born in Reykjavik. A source of pride for the forty-something who cast his own dog alongside his children! Panda was undoubtedly made to feel at ease by being in his usual environment, which would explain his exceptional performance.
Presented at Cannes Première, this film takes a sensitive look at the beauty of everyday life and the flow of memories that unfold over the seasons. Panda plays the faithful companion of a family whose parents are separating. We all know how much a dog is a “full member” of a household. And shared custody arrangements exist for dogs just as they do for children!
Unfortunately, Panda was unable to be in Cannes to receive his award. Iceland isn’t exactly next door! And the online magazine Woopets doesn’t have the same budget as the blockbusters that finance the travel expenses of a Tom Cruise, who came to the Cannes Film Festival this year to present his film Mission Impossible. Calling all generous donors and animal lovers…
When the winner was announced, Hlynur Pálmason filmed Panda on the seat of his car to warmly thank the jury and the audience.
Not to disappoint Palm Dog aficionados, a local dog who looks just like Panda stepped in as a stand-in. He received the famous bright red collar in the presence of one of the film’s producers. All the spotlights were on the substitute Panda. Unaccustomed to cameras (not all “mongrels” have acting talent), he wanted to leave the red carpet stage too quickly. Nevertheless, television crews, journalists, and influencers from around the world were able to capture a few images of the black and white Icelandic sheepdog.
Panda, the rising canine star, succeeds Kodi (Cosmos on screen), who received this prestigious award last year for his performance in the film The Trial of the Dog, directed by Lætitia Dosch. A faithful companion to a visually impaired man, Cosmos is tried as a human being after attacking a woman. Before him, Messi, a border collie, wore the coveted red collar for his role as Snoop in the multi-award-winning film Anatomy of a Fall by Justine Triet, winner of the Palme d’Or in 2023. He played a central role in this thriller in which the couple’s child was blind.
Other famous winners include Brandy, the American Staffordshire terrier who starred alongside Brad Pitt in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Producer and director Quentin Tarantino came in person to honor the canine star’s success in 2019.
At the Palm Dog Awards, canine glamour entertains even the most jaded festival-goers. The owners and their dogs are happy to meet anyone who approaches them. There is no barrier between the stars and the public. However, the paparazzi are becoming increasingly numerous, making it difficult to take photos of the lucky winners.
Pipa received the Grand Jury Prize posthumously
There is also a Grand Prix du Jury. In 2025, it was awarded to the dog who played the character of Pipa in the film Sirât directed by French-Spanish director Olivier Laxe. He was present at the ceremony with Jade Oukid, one of the actresses in the film, who had the sad task of announcing the death of the Jack Russell Pipa. The following day, at the closing night of the Cannes Film Festival, Olivier Laxe received the Jury Prize for his road movie set in the Moroccan desert. The film tells the epic story of a father (accompanied by his son and his dog) who searches for his daughter who disappeared during a hallucinatory and apocalyptic rave party.
Who decides and how?
The international Palm Dog jury is made up of six journalists, including Peter Bradshaw, renowned film critic for The Guardian.
The jury members are busy. They watch the films screened during the Cannes Film Festival: the films in competition, the Directors’ Fortnight, Un Certain Regard, and Cannes Première. As soon as a film features a dog (beyond a mere cameo appearance), the feature film is eligible for the Palm Dog. The choices are made based on the importance of the role, the training techniques, and the rapport with the film’s main characters.
The Palm Dog is an award that has continued to evolve since its creation. It is highly coveted because it offers great visibility both in France and abroad. “The Palm Dog is one of the most viewed videos of the Cannes Film Festival,” notes Anthony Pruvost. Let’s bet that some screenwriters will now include a dog in their fiction… with the idea of winning the famous prize.
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Featured photo: Presentation of the Palm Dog to Panda on May 23, 2025, with Toby Rose, creator of the award, Anthony Pruvost, founder of Woopets, and the members of the jury. ©Corine Moriou
