The Fido Awards 2024
On the 10th March 2024, as Hollywood primped and pampered for its Oscars glory, the dogs of London were glossing their coats and perfecting their poses, it was Fido’s Day!
GoodBadMad had the pleasure of producing the Fido Awards 2024. Meg Elys, our founder, joined the Fido’s team in 2023, and GoodBadMad signed on to sponsor and produce the awards ceremony. For the first year ever, The Fido’s partnered with the BFI, and other sponsors; nothing could better highlight the world’s current obsession with dogs on film.
As Toby Rose, founder of the Fido’s, welcomed everyone ‘ Friends rovers and countrymen’, we welcomed our guests of the British entertainment world and Doggie influencers..and big names attended. Monica Dolan from Mr Bates versus the Post Office and many films. Also in the attendance a long time associate of Palm Dog who lending his support to Fidos…Jean Christophe Bouvet better known as Pierre Cadault from Emily in Paris.
Competition has been red hot this year for the coveted Fidos trophy collars - very difficult to predict winners. It was beyond our Ken and Barbie didn’t have a clue either. But all was revealed at a Fidos ceremony which dared to clash with not only the Oscars and Crufts but also Mother’s Day.
In the countdown to trophy collars dogs have been making the headlines. Messi from Anatomy of a Fall has been splashed across the Guardian and page 3 of the Sunday Times. In the Independent we read about Fidos forerunner the Patsy awards. And to cap it all - Palm Dog ended up on the lips of David Tennant at the BAFTA awards. Further evidence that dogs have arrived on the big screen is the association between the BFI and Fidos with the creation on this day of the BFI Best in World award - our top prize very much best in show business - which going forward will surely be known to the canine cognoscenti as the BFI-doe.
This year has seen a Ciné tsunami of canines plus an outbreak of A listers Co starring with dogs on the big Screen including TIlda Swinton, Will Ferrell, Arron Eckhart and Mark Wahlberg.
Meanwhile Messi - from five times Oscar nominated Anatomy of a Fall - hobnobbed with Tinseltown at the Oscars contenders lunch in Hollywood where he rubbed paws with the stars. A Visibly breathtaken Ryan Gosling took a break from plaudits for his portayal of Ken to cosy up to Missi. Another key moment was when superstar songsmith Mark Ronson knelt next to Messi for just the right composition for his Instagram selfie.
And might I now turn to those awards and the dogs who scooped the trophy collars. The jury of top film critics and writers whittled down the pack to provide today’s winners. No easy task.
Wendy Mitchell, Screen International editor at large and author of Citizen Canine, Kaleem Aftab, film writer and film festival director, Rita di Santo Morning Star, Anna Smith broadcaster and journalist and Girls on Film, Peter Bradshaw , Guardian film critic, Damen Wise from Deadline and Joe Utichi from Deadline.
And the winners were…
Blockbuster Bowser
Winner/ The Little Mermaid - Max the Old English Sheepdog collected by Gary who played Max in the film
Guardians of the galaxy 3 - Cosmo
Wonka - snarly Tiddles
Historical Hound.
Winner/ Napoleon - Josephine’s stately Pomeranian which leads canine ensemble
Priscilla - Honey white poodle gift from Elvis played by Chewy
Zone of interest - household hound owned by Sandra Hüller
Rom Com Rover
Winner/ Barbie - Sugar White the West Highland terrier
Rye Lane - park dogs
No Hard Feelings - rescue centre pooches
Mutt Moment
Winner/Anatomy of a fall - border collie Messi
The Eternal Daughter - Tilda’s family springer spaniel
The Old Oak - mongrel by the name of Lola
Comedy Canine
Winner/Poor Things - black Standard Poodle
Meg 2 - return of Pippin the Yorkie played by Macho
Stray - Reggie the border terrier voice by Will Ferrell.
FiDogManitarian
Bruce Oldfield for Camilla’s Coronation Dress emblazoned with her rescue bowsers Bluebell and Beth - both Jack Russells
BFI Best in World - Messi who played Snoop in Anatomy of a fall.
With Messi sending in his acceptance videos from La La Land, it was the perfect way to cap off the 2024 ceremony.
A massive thanks to all our sponsors, and a special mention to the ‘Animal Nature Future Film Festival’ curation team helped with event managing on site together with Kean Cao as Asian PR, assisted by Linlin Zhu &Chongjin Gan, who helped with promoting Fidos globally to Asian audiences.