The Palm Dog 2002 goes to Tähti in The Man Without a Past
Tähti as Hannibal in The Man Without a Past
Winners
- Palm Dog: Tähti as Hannibal in The Man Without a Past – directed by Aki Kaurismäki
- Grand Jury Prize: George as Sonny in Mystics – directed by David Blair
The Jury
- Derek Malcolm - The Evening Standard
- Neil Norman - The Daily Express
- Dana Thomas - Newsweek International
- Alastair Connolly – MTV
A second edition that lived up to expectations
The second edition of the Palm Dog confirmed the growing success of this now-coveted award.
The 2002 winner is Tähti, the dog of Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki. In his film The Man Without a Past, the four-legged actor plays Hannibal, a dog encountered by the protagonist during his recovery in the streets of Helsinki. The dog delivers an exceptional cinematic moment that won over the jury. Composed of international experts such as Derek Malcolm (The Evening Standard), Neil Norman (The Daily Express), and Dana Thomas (Newsweek International), the jury unanimously chose Tähti.
The Grand Jury Prize went to George, the Jack Russell in David Blair's film Mystics.
Aki Kaurismäki receiving the Palm Dog collar from Toby Rose. © Barbara Dent
James Christopher from The Times tries the collar to see if it fits.
An emotional ceremony
During the award presentation on the Grand Hôtel’s expansive lawn, excitement was at its peak. Tähti's owner could hardly hide their emotion. “Now that we have received the Palm Dog, nothing else matters,” declared the ecstatic director. “Whatever happens, Cannes 2002 has been a huge success for the film. Tähti is overwhelmed. I am overwhelmed. Tähti means ‘star’ in Finnish, so when she was named, we could clearly foresee great things.”
After receiving the 2002 Palm Dog black leather collar, Aki Kaurismäki frequently mentioned the award in later interviews. “I love dogs more than humans,” he confessed. “They are more honest. At least they cannot express lies.”
The 2002 Selection
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The Man Without a Past by Aki Kaurismäki
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Mystics by David Blair
