Latest news with #IcelandicSheepdog
Malay Mail
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Barking, bandanas and red carpet zoomies: Cannes' Palm Dog goes to real-life Icelandic star Panda
Panda wins for role in 'The Love That Remains' Past winners include Messi from 'Anatomy of a Fall' Palm Dog celebrates 25th edition CANNES, May 24 — Forget the Cannes Film Festival's strict dress code: Guests at the popular Palm Dog awards on Friday used their time in the spotlight to roll around on stage and bark at the competition. Dozens of people gathered at the Plage du Festival tent along the crowded Croisette boulevard to celebrate the film world's canine celebrities at the ceremony now in its 25th year. Human guests sipped on glasses of wine and excitedly crowded around the four-legged attendees of various breeds, who seemed all too happy for the attention, if not a bit confused. This year's award winner was Panda, an Icelandic sheepdog who stars in the Icelandic family drama 'The Love That Remains' by director Hlynur Palmason that's playing out of competition. Panda, who is Palmason's dog in real life, was not able to attend the event but recorded a video to accept the prize: a red banana with the words Palm Dog 2025 emblazoned in gold thread. Past winners include Messi, the Border collie from Justine Triet's 'Anatomy of a Fall,' who converted his star power into a French TV show, as well as Brandy, a pit bull belonging to Brad Pitt's character in 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.' Panda 'doesn't really know yet, but I guess she will feel good when she has gotten this around her neck,' said the Icelandic film's producer Anton Mani Svansson about the bandana. 'But she's a real earthbound star,' he added. Panda was chosen because of how central she is to the family's life in the film, joining them on hikes, in the car or at the mother's art studio, said jury member Wendy Mitchell. 'There are so many great competitors this year, but this dog is at the heart of the film,' Mitchell told Reuters. Palm Dog's Grand Jury Prize went to Pipa, a Jack Russell, and Lupita, a Podenco mix, who accompany a father and son on a journey into the Moroccan desert in 'Sirat,' by French-Spanish director Oliver Laxe, who picked up the prize in person. Hippo, a dachshund, as well as a rottweiler received a special 'Mutt Moment' prize for their scene in the Alexander Skarsgard-led kinky romance 'Pillion' where they accompany their owner on a nighttime tryst. 'Hippo carries the film on her little legs,' said director Harry Lighton in accepting the award. 'She's the true dom of 'Pillion,'' he added, using the shorthand term for 'dominatrix.' Palm Dog founder Toby Rose said that he often is asked why dogs should receive prizes for being on the big screen. 'It's pretty much self-evident for me - why would Jack Nicholson get a prize 'As Good as It Gets'?' Rose said. 'It's because when the camera's on them and they do whatever their role is, they stand out,' he told Reuters. — Reuters
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Panda Wins the 2025 Palm Dog Award at Cannes — And a Look-Alike Accepts
It's called the Palm Dog contest, but Friday's winner of the annual Cannes Film Festival tradition was a Panda. Panda, though, is an Icelandic sheepdog who stars in 'The Love That Remains,' from Icelandic director Hlynur Pálmason. Always positioned at the tail end of the festival, the beachside Palm Dog ceremony comes a day before the winner of the festival's Palme d'Or is announced. Pálmason's tragicomic film, which premiered at Cannes not in competition, follows five characters — Panda included — over the course of a year after the breakdown of a marriage. Panda is ever-present and very much part of the on-screen family and at the heart of the movie. Panda, who retains her name in the film, is Pálmason's dog and stars alongside his real-life children in the movie, which may explain the award-winning performance. While Panda sadly could not be there to collect the award, a look-alike local pooch was on hand to collect the coveted dog collar along with one of the film's human producers. Panda did make a virtual appearance with an acceptance video, on a car journey through Iceland. She succeeds last year's winner, Kodi, from 'Dog on Trial.' This year's awards marked the 25th anniversary of the much-loved event. Palm Dog founder Toby Rose explained that it has had more impact that he could imagine, becoming a fixture at Cannes. 'We honor the four-legged here just so they get a bit of their moment before the big dresses and the tuxedos take over,' Rose said. Other prizes included the 'Mutt Moment' Award, for stealing the scene. This went to a long-haired dachshund and a rottweiler, for their roles in raunchy biker drama 'Pillion,' starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling. Finally, the grand jury prize was awarded to mystical Spanish odyssey 'Sirât,' for Jack Russell terrier Pipa and Lupita, a Podenco cross. The story follows a father searching for his daughter across the desert, accompanied by his son — and Pipa and Lupita. Lead actor Jade Oukid was there in person to collect the award alongside director Oliver Laxe. She told the gathered audience that Lupita was her own dog, who had sadly died soon after filming. After the show, Rose added that Lupita would be immortalized with this prize: 'We were so happy that we could celebrate a short life.' The Palm Dog has seen many a famous guest come down to pick up their awards in person. Quentin Tarantino came in person to collect the award in 2019 when Brandy the pit bull in 'Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood' won. And, in 2021, Tilda Swinton attended the ceremony to pick up the prize when her own three dogs, Rose, Dora and Snowbear, won the award for their roles in Joanna Hogg's 'The Souvenir II.' Some dogs have become mini-celebrities in their own right, including Messi from 'Anatomy of a Fall.'
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Panda wins the 2025 Palm Dog award at Cannes — and a look-alike accepts
It's called the Palm Dog contest, but Friday's winner of the annual Cannes Film Festival tradition was a Panda. Panda, though, is an Icelandic sheepdog who stars in 'The Love That Remains,' from Icelandic director Hlynur Pálmason. Always positioned at the tail end of the festival, the beachside Palm Dog ceremony comes a day before the winner of the festival's Palme d'Or is announced. Pálmason's tragicomic film, which premiered at Cannes not in competition, follows five characters — Panda included — over the course of a year after the breakdown of a marriage. Panda is ever-present and very much part of the on-screen family and at the heart of the movie. Panda, who retains her name in the film, is Pálmason's dog and stars alongside his real-life children in the movie, which may explain the award-winning performance. While Panda sadly could not be there to collect the award, a look-alike local pooch was on hand to collect the coveted dog collar along with one of the film's human producers. Panda did make a virtual appearance with an acceptance video, on a car journey through Iceland. She succeeds last year's winner, Kodi, from 'Dog on Trial.' This year's awards marked the 25th anniversary of the much-loved event. Palm Dog founder Toby Rose explained that it has had more impact that he could imagine, becoming a fixture at Cannes. 'We honor the four-legged here just so they get a bit of their moment before the big dresses and the tuxedos take over,' Rose said. Other prizes included the 'Mutt Moment' Award, for stealing the scene. This went to a long-haired dachshund and a rottweiler, for their roles in raunchy BDSM biker drama 'Pillion,' starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling. The scene in question involves the film's two lovers bringing their respective dogs to a nighttime tryst. In a thank-you statement, director Harry Lighton described Hippo the dachshund's 'raw sex appeal' and said she's the true domme in 'Pillion.' Finally the grand jury prize was awarded to mystical Spanish odyssey 'Sirât,' for Jack Russell terrier Pipa and Lupita, a Podenco cross. The story follows a father searching for his daughter across the desert, accompanied by his son — and Pipa and Lupita. Lead actor Jade Oukid was there in person to collect the award alongside director Oliver Laxe. She told the gathered audience that Lupita was her own dog, who had sadly died soon after filming. After the show, Rose added that Lupita would be immortalized with this prize: 'We were so happy that we could celebrate a short life.' The Palm Dog has seen many a famous guest come down to pick up their awards in person. Quentin Tarantino came in person to collect the award in 2019 when Brandy the pit bull in 'Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood' won. And, in 2021, Tilda Swinton attended the ceremony to pick up the prize when her own three dogs, Rose, Dora and Snowbear, won the award for their roles in Joanna Hogg's 'The Souvenir II.' Some dogs have become mini-celebrities in their own right, including Messi from 'Anatomy of a Fall.'
