The whisky-drinking dog star of Bladerunner 2049 has won the inaugural Palm Dog USA award.

 

The performance of Bo, the canine pal of Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), in the Ridley Scott movie captured the judge’s imagination as the Palm Dog Awards made its US debut.

 

The awards which celebrate best dogs in film have been a fringe staple of the Cannes Film Festival for 17 years. Past winners include Uggie from The Artist and, last year, Einstein for his performance as Bruno in The Meyerowitz Stories.

 

Palm Dog Jury chair Toby Rose said: “The fate of Decker’s whisky-drinking dog may remain a mystery. But to the judges it was an exemplary performance showing the importance of the canine-human relationship even in a replicant’s world.”

 

Toby, Palm Dog creator, added: “It has always been my dream to take Palm Dog to Hollywood and the chance to hold an inaugural event in the Year of the Dog was too good an opportunity to miss.”

 

The Grand Jury prize went to the hungry corgi who shared a tete-a-tete with King George VI and wartime premier Winston Churchill in the Oscar-favourite The Darkest Hour, starring Gary Oldman.

 

The judges said: “This perky chap lightened the mood in The Darkest Hour with a regal turn.”

 

A Special Commendation Award was given to the grey lurcher in A Fantastic Woman.

 

The Palm Dog Awards made their USA debut to a pop-up ceremony at Pet Restaurant in Boulevard Sherman Oaks, LA, today (Saturday March 3rd).

 

The Palm Dog jury was made up of film writer Kate Muir, Kaleem Aftab from the Independent, Time Out contributor Anna Smith - currently President of the Critics Circle, and Rita Di Santos from the Morning Star.

 

The Palm Dog Collars are created by London pet gear powerhouse, Creature Clothes.