Cannes, France — While there is plenty of celebrity action at the Cannes Film Festival this week, another ceremony was taking place in town to honor films celebrating the role played by animals in films, documentaries, books and advertizing campaigns. Enter the Pawards, held for the very first time last May 21st on the beach of the Cannes Film Festival, bringing together artists, French television personalities and people active in animal well-being and welfare. David Lisnard, the popular mayor of Cannes was in attendance as well to open up the ceremonies. French journalist Stéphanie Chermont was the president of the jury and the event was piloted by Christophe Beaugrand, a well-known French television personality. The Paward for Best Film went to The Friend by Scott McGhee and David Siegel from Bleeker Street Media. Based on the New York Times best selling novel of the same name, it features a delightful Great Dane who is bequeathed to his new owner, played by Naomi Watts, by his late owner played by Bill Murray. Meanwhile Pets, a documentary exploring the relationship between animals and their people around the world from Bryce Dallas Howard won as the best documentary.

The Paward for Best Animated Film went to the now famous Oscar-winning Flow, which was projected at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024 and garnered rave reviews. Directed by Gints Zilbalodis, Flow tells the story of a young black cat separated from his family in a flood. There is no dialogue (and no humans) in this epic adventure-like film set in a world where the water level has risen dramatically. Flow was nominated for two Oscars — Best International Feature Film and Best Animated Feature — winning in the latter category. The Best ad award went to It’s Never Too Late, a heart-warming holiday advertisement video created to promote pet adoption for the Peterborough Humane society. And the Taylor Swift Black Dog campaign that enabled thousands of black dogs to be adopted was awarded best communication campaign. It consisted in re-naming black dogs Taylor Swift, in a nod to the singer’s song The Black Dog. The Pawards, which aim to raise awareness about animal issues, was created by the Agence YLG, a French communications agency dedicated to the world of animals. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette

See also: https://thegourmetgazette.com/2025/05/21/moments-in-time-cannes-red-carpet-time-2/