Palm Dog Award Won by Canine Star of ‘Dog on Trial’ While ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ Breakout Messi Looms Large Over Cannes
variety.comAlex Ritman Is Messi’s reign as cinema’s current top dog over? The Palm Dog — Cannes’ annual celebration of on-screen canine performances which was last year won by the blue-eyed border collie from “Anatomy of a Fall,” the first step in a dramatic bound toward furry fame — has crowned a new champion.
The 2024 Palm Dog, presented at a special event on May 24, has been given to Kodi, the senior stray at the heart of acclaimed Swiss-French comedy “Dog on Trial.” The Un Certain Regard title from director and star Laetitia Dosch sees Kodi — believed to be a blonde Griffon cross — plays Cosmos, an aggressive pet who’s taken on as a client by a defense lawyer in story exploring the status of dogs in society.
According to Palm Dog founder Toby Rose, Kodi is nearing his 10th birthday and will soon retire from acting, but bow-wows out having delivered a “fine four-legged swan song.” Meanwhile, the Palm Dog’s Grand Jury Prize went to Xin, the Jack Russell-greyhound cross in “Black Dog,” another Un Certain Regard feature with hounds at its heart.
From Chinese director Guan Hu, the film stars Taiwanese actor and singer Eddie Peng as a man charged with removing stray dogs from his hometown before the Olympic Games. “‘Black Dog’ has added significance in that the highly regarded superstar Chinese director is straying from his traditional subjects to fully embrace a canine topic,” said Rose.
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