The much-anticipated FIDO Awards 2025 will celebrate the brightest four-legged stars of the silver screen, crowning the top canine performances of the year. Set to take place on Sunday, February 23rd, from 12pm to 2pm at the British Film Institute on Stephen Street in London, the awards ceremony promises to be a tail-wagging good time for all. Hosted by Toby Rose, founder of the Palm Dog Awards and the FIDO Awards, this event is sure to shine a spotlight on the dogged determination of canine actors from across the film world.
While the Oscars and BAFTAs may have already made their mark, the FIDOs carve out their own niche as the premier celebration of dogs in film. But it’s more than just about the glitz and glam of awards season. The FIDOs honor the profound bond between humans and their dogs, with a mission to make the world a more dog-friendly space, one paw at a time. As the sister ceremony to the renowned Palm Dog Awards—celebrated annually at the Cannes Film Festival—the FIDOs are now in their fifth year of sniffing out the best dog performances from a year of cinematic releases.
Toby Rose, the man behind it all, promises this year’s ceremony will be “pawsitively” extraordinary. “This year has been especially blessed with stand-out dog performances in films, as varied as Jean Claude in The Fall Guy, Pimpao the Jack Russell in I’m Still Here, and the Alsatian in Babygirl,” Rose enthused. “The winners of FIDOS 2025 will be selected from the longest-ever longlist of contenders. And we all know, in the end, dogrisma will triumph in the battle for a FIDO and ultimately the grand prize: BFI Best in World.”
The FIDOs are awarded across five categories, each celebrating the diverse talents of canine actors. From the comedy antics of Dogpool to the heartwarming heroics of Prom Dates’ Lucy the border collie, there’s something for every dog lover to enjoy:
Blockbuster Bowser Award Nominees
This category honors the boldest of doggy action stars who risk life and paw for the perfect stunt:
- Jean Claude in The Fall Guy (dir. David Leitch) – Stunt dog Kelpie
- Bloofy in Inside Out (dir. Kelsey Mann) – Voiced by Ron Funches
- Pouchy in Inside Out (dir. Kelsey Mann) – Voiced by James Austin Johnson
- Security Dogs in Red One (dir. Jake Kasdan) – Creating a rumpus doing their job
Comedy Canine Award Nominees
Expect plenty of laughs as the comic relief canines take center stage:
- Peggy in Deadpool & Wolverine (dir. Shawn Levy) – Peggy the Pug Chinese Crested cross, playing Dogpool alongside Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool
- Gromit in Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (dir. Merlin Crossingham and Nick Park) – Always the no-nonsense dog
- Doug in DogMan (dir. Luc Besson) – DogMan Doug, played by Caleb Landry Jones, learns to embrace his new identity
RomCom Rover Award Nominees
The heartwarming dogs in this category win us over with their cuddles and comic timing:
- Veronica in Our Little Secret (dir. Stephen Herek) – A Yorkshire Terrier treated for eating chocolate biscuits (actually scoffed by Lindsay Lohan’s character)
- Roxster in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (dir. Michael Morris) – The dog who makes a splash at a pool party, rescued by Leo Woodall’s character
- Lucy in Prom Dates (dir. Kim O. Nguyen) – A border collie who hits buttons to talk
Historical Hound Award Nominees
A nod to those legendary dogs with a historical flair:
- Two Pet Poodles in Maria (dir. Pablo Larrain) – Pampered pooches of Maria Callas, played by Angelina Jolie
- Charlie Brown in The Apprentice – Pampered pooch who enjoys a cushy life
- Pimpao in I’m Still Here (dir. Walter Salles) – The cute Jack Russell stray who finds a new home with the Paiva family
Mutt Moment Award Nominees
For those dogs who steal the scene in a single unforgettable moment:
- Alsatian in Babygirl (dir. Halina Reijn) – A dog who startles Nicole Kidman’s character, Romy
- Toto in Wicked (dir. Jon M. Chu) – A cameo from the legendary Toto
- Xin the Dog in Black Dog (dir. Guan Hu) – A canine star in a pivotal role
The stakes are high, and for one lucky pup, the ultimate honor awaits: BFI Best in World, crowning the finest canine performance of the year. And let’s not forget the FiDogManitarian Award, which will go to those who work tirelessly to strengthen the bond between humans and their canine companions.
With a distinguished jury of top film journalists, including Anna Smith from Girls On Film and Tim Robey of The Daily Telegraph, the competition is sure to be fierce, but only the best dog stars will come out on top.
As the FIDOs close in on their big day, it’s clear that the true winners are the furry friends who steal our hearts with their on-screen presence, proving that even in the cutthroat world of cinema, there’s always room for a doggone good performance.
So, mark your calendars and get ready to paws for applause as the best in doggy cinema take their rightful place on the podium. It’s time to see which pup will fetch the coveted FIDO Award—this is one ceremony you won’t want to miss!
