Tilda Swinton and Sean Baker accept Palm Dog Awards – Deadline

Tilda Swinton and Sean Baker were among the human accomplices present to accept rewards on behalf of thieves of canine scenes in their Cannes films at the irreverent Palm Dog Awards on the Croisette this afternoon. Organized by journalist Toby Rose in 2001, inspired by his own French Fox Terrier Muttley, the Palm Dog Awards show has become an annual treat on the penultimate day of the Cannes Film Festival and celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

Swinton accepted the Palm Dog Award on behalf of her own trio of Spaniels, who perform alongside her in Joanna Hogg’s The Remembrance Part II. Hogg was also present at the show, but via FaceTime from Swinton’s iPhone.

The Jury Prize was shared by Sophie in Sean Baker’s Red rocket, and Panda, the shepherd dog of Valdimar Jóhannsson lamb. The two directors were on hand to collect the prizes.

Baker, who arrived at the ceremony with his own dogs – Bunsen and Boonee, who co-starred with Dree Hemingway in Baker’s previous film Starlet– accepted the award on behalf of Sophie, who was adopted while filming and traded in a hectic existence in Galveston, TX for a happy new family life in Los Angeles.

“It’s the start of an incredible career for Sophie,” Baker told Deadline. “She now lives in LA and has an agent. She really wouldn’t be alive today if she hadn’t been saved – she had heartworm and the vet gave her a few weeks to live. He’s the cutest pit bull ever.

The awards were presented by jury members, including this same reporter, Deadline Executive Awards Editor Joe Utichi, and Deadline contributors Damon Wise and Anna Smith. The rest of the jury consisted of journalists Kaleem Aftab, Rita Di Santo, Wendy Mitchell and Tim Robey.

“Having Tilda and Sean in attendance for our 20th anniversary of the Palm Dog Awards is the best birthday present,” Rose said. “In The Remembrance Part II, the dogs were really family, in every sense of the word, being Tilda’s own doggies. A wonderful personal touch. In Red rocket, Sophie was a lost and found with a very sad story fixed. It doesn’t get any better than that. And lamb‘s Panda was a truly deserved victory for the timeless and precious qualities of a dog empathizing with his owner and loyal to a fault, making the ultimate sacrifice. Sadly, Panda has since passed away in real life, so it will be a posthumous honor. “

Another award, the Palm DogManitarian Award, went to credit card giant Mastercard, which highlighted the role of dogs in its marketing in this pandemic year, presenting them as ideal companions for the new work-at-home environment. .

The golden necklaces offered at the Palm Dogs have become prime prizes for festival filmmakers. In 2019, Quentin Tarantino came to Cannes in preparation for a Palm Dog victory for Brandy, the dog in Brad Pitt’s character in Once upon a time in hollywood. The director was not disappointed and went to the ceremony to receive the Brandy award. Other notable dogs awarded in the past include the legendary Uggie, star of the 2012s The artist.