The Fido Awards and Dogs Trust honour dog actors

Bounding into their third year, the Fido Awards, presented for canine cinematic excellence are this year teaming up with Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity. The event honours dog performances on the silver screen and will take place on Sunday 22 November 2009 at BFI Southbank in London.

Nominations for the Fido Awards are announced today for outstanding canine performances in the following categories:

HISTORICAL HOUND – for period drama excellence
The Young Victoria
Dean Spanley
W.
Taking Woodstock

ROM-COM ROVER – for romantic-comedy companionship
The Proposal
Marley and Me
My Best Friend’s Girlfriend
I Love You Man

COMEDY CANINE – for outstanding comedic contribution
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Hotel for Dogs
Bolt

BLOCKBUSTER BOWSER – for event-movie performance of the year
Gran Torino
Inglourious Basterds
Coraline
Up

MUTT MOMENT – for a single stand-out cinematic canine moment
Wendy and Lucy
Fish Tank
Let the Right One In
Sleep Furiously

Dogs Trust has its very own category - ‘Dogs Trust Star of Tomorrow’ where proud owners can nominate their canine chums to attend the exclusive awards and become cover star of the charity’s magazine, Wag!

The Fido Awards are produced by Toby Rose who also organises the prestigious Palm Dog Award at the Cannes Film Festival, which in 2010 will celebrate ten years of standout dog performances at the festival. He explained, “This year has seen an unprecedented run of dog successes at the international box office, from huge Hollywood blockbusters to cutting edge independent films. It is fitting that in such a dog-centric year on the big screen that the Fido Awards will be presented in association with leading dog charity Dogs Trust.”

Clarissa Baldwin, Dogs Trust CEO added, “Dogs Trust is thrilled to be associated with the Fido Awards, particularly as this year saw so many fantastic dog films at the box office. We’re well aware of the starring role dogs play in so many family lives, whether they’re famous on the big screen or simply curling up with their owners to watch the small one in the sitting room!”

The judging panel this year is made up of leading film critics and writers, including: Derek Malcolm, EVENING STANDARD; Angie Errigo, EMPIRE; James Christopher, THE TIMES; Kaleem Aftab, THE INDEPENDENT and Charles Gant, HEAT.