War Pony poodle scoops Palm Dog Award

Brit, a silver poodle, won the Palm Dog award at the Cannes Film Festival for best performance by a canine Photo: Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival

The only Cannes award ceremony with more bark than bite was back in its inimitable stride with the Palm Dog award for the best canine performance going to Brit, a fluffy silver poodle who stars in the Un Certain Regard title War Pony, directed by Riley Keough and Gina Gammell.

Palm Dog founder Toby Rose Photo: Palm Dog

The directors received news of the award via a video link. An embossed Palm Dog collar - which was accepted at a ceremony in Cannes on behalf of Brit by two stand-in hounds - a pair of poodles - will be sent to the proud animal.

War Pony had originally been titled, Beast which was the name of the poodle played by Brit in the film, whose title changed just before the Festival began. Brit or Beast is adopted by the main character Bill and has a prominent role.

Other awards in the unofficial canine awards went to Marcel, the terrier in the French film Marcel! which was part of the Cannes Special Screenings section and a sheepdog from another Un Certain Regard title, Godland.

The “Dogmatarian” award, for the bond between humanity and canines, went to Patron, the Ukrainian Jack Russell mine sniffer honoured by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his service during the war.

A special Palm Hound Dog was created in honour of Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis extravaganza.

The Palm Dog’s founder Toby Rose presided over the proceedings attended by, among others, critic Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian.