Yuri the rescue dog wins Palm Dog

Yuri, a rescue dog from Dominga Sotomayor’s Chilean film “La Perra,” won the 2026 Palm Dog at Cannes on Friday, May 22. The Palm Dog, a long-running Cannes side prize for canine performances, announced Yuri as this year’s winner at a ceremony during the 79th festival. Cannes’ official closing ceremony followed on Saturday, May 23, while the Palm Dog was awarded a day earlier. The award put attention on a film from Directors’ Fortnight rather than the main Cannes competition. “La Perra” follows a solitary woman whose life changes after the arrival of an abandoned puppy named Yuri, according to Associated Press and Variety festival coverage. Variety reported that the film is directed by Sotomayor and premiered in Directors’ Fortnight. (palmdog.com) ### What exactly is the Palm Dog? The Palm Dog was founded in 2001 by film journalist Toby Rose to honor canine performances at Cannes. The award is separate from the festival’s official prize list, but it has become a regular part of Cannes coverage and is presented by a jury of critics, according to the Palm Dog website and Associated Press. (variety.com) The 2026 edition was the 26th Palm Dog. The Palm Dog website said Yuri “delivered a stunning role” in “La Perra” and succeeded Panda, the Icelandic sheepdog recognized last year for Hlynur Pálmason’s “Godland.” ### Why was Yuri’s win getting attention at Cannes? Friday’s ceremony in Cannes drew journalists, dog owners and festivalgoers to a beachfront event where stand-in dogs accepted prizes and guests were served dog treats, the Associated Press reported. (palmdog.com) AP said the atmosphere mixed barking with wine glasses as the Palm Dog ceremony played out a day before Cannes handed out its official film awards. Variety reported that Yuri had emerged as a favorite in “Croisette conversations” before the prize was announced. Storyboard18 described Yuri as a rescue dog whose win became one of the festival’s lighter side stories as attention turned to the closing weekend awards. (usnews.com) ### What do we know about Yuri off screen? Variety reported that Yuri lived in a shelter run by Mirada Animal Chile before production on the film. The outlet said the filmmakers worked with trainers Nicolás Carrillo and Marcela Carrasco during a process that included adoption and training, and that Yuri later found a new home. (variety.com) Associated Press reported that Sotomayor said two rescue dogs were used to play Yuri at different ages. “Yuri and little Tormenta who played the little Yuri, they are both rescue and they are both happy in their new houses,” Sotomayor said, according to AP. AP also reported her saying the dogs were not trained, calling the filming process “really wild.” (variety.com) ### Who accepted the award? Dominga Sotomayor accepted the Palm Dog award on Yuri’s behalf in Cannes, according to AP coverage and festival photographs carried by multiple outlets. AP captions identified another dog, Apocalypse, as appearing with Sotomayor during the ceremony because Yuri could not attend. (usnews.com) AP also reported that Lola, the dog from Clio Barnard’s “I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning,” won the Palm Dog jury prize. Barnard told AP she “loved working with her” and would “love to work with her again.” (usnews.com) ### Where does this fit into the wider Cannes schedule? The Cannes Film Festival said its 79th edition ran from May 12 to May 23, 2026, with the winners list posted online on Saturday, May 23. “La Perra” was not part of the main official competition lineup listed by Cannes because it screened in Directors’ Fortnight, a parallel section. (usnews.com) The next public marker for the film is its post-Cannes run on the festival circuit and eventual release planning by its backers, which Variety identified as PLANTA and RT Features. Cannes has already posted its 2026 winners online, while Palm Dog’s site now lists Yuri as the 2026 winner. (variety.com) (festival-cannes.com)