Celebrate Canine Cinema: The 2024 Top Dog Film Festival Tours Australia
Australia's Biggest Canine Film Festival Tours the Country August-September
The 2024 Top Dog Film Festival, Australia's premier showcase of the best dog-themed movies from around the world, hits the road this August and September for a national tour celebrating the passion of dog lovers across the country.
The festival will bring a curated selection of hilarious, heartwarming, and delightfully dog-centric films to venues in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and other cities. From Cairns to Hobart, Australian dog devotees won't want to miss out on these must-see films made for the furriest four-legged film fans.
"We're absolutely delighted to take the Top Dog Film Festival on tour across Australia again this year," said festival director Jemima Robinson. "With comedies, dramas, documentaries, and an animated film, our goal is to bring together dog lovers of all ages to celebrate the unique joy that our canine companions bring to the world."
Feature films and short programs will showcase the full range of humanity's enduring bond with dogs – from local independent films to international award-winners making their Australian premieres.
As an inclusive and family- friendly event, theTop Dog Film Tour provides a welcoming space for dog lovers of all ages. Whether it’s a lifelong dog enthusiast, a recent dog adopter, or simply an appreciation for the unique bond between humans and animals, this tour promises an experience that will tug at everyones heartstrings and leave them with a renewed appreciation for the extraordinary spirit of dogs.
Audiences can look forward to engaging with a variety of Australian dog charities and conservation partners at the screenings, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to support these noble organisations dedicated to rescuing and caring for dogs in need.
The full tour schedule is now available on the festival's website at www.topdogfilmfestival.com.au. Sign up for the festival's email list to receive details on tickets, venues, and more as they're announced.
About: The Top Dog Film Festival The Top Dog Film Festival started in 2017 in Sydney as a celebration of dog-inspired cinema from around the globe. It has grown into an annual tradition for Australian movie fans and their pups.
Tickets: https://topdogfilmfestival.com.au/tickets/
Film Descriptions
BIONIC PETS
7 minutes: USA
A film by: Kurt A. Gardinier
In a modest workshop in Virginia, a modern-day miracle worker is changing the lives of animals in need. Derrick Campana is using his mastery of human prosthetics to forge a new path - crafting bionic limbs that allow four-legged companions to run, jump and play once again.
With a deep passion for animals and unwavering determination, he pioneered the field of animal prosthetics from the ground up. But the true magic happens when Derrick’s bionic creations are bestowed upon recovering pets unable to walk, run or live their lives to the fullest after illness, injury or birth defects.
ANDY: A Dog’s Tale
7 minutes: USA
A film by: Canine Companions, directed by Jamy Wheless of Ignite Animation
Andy a Dog's Tale follows Andy, a puppy with an unwavering spirit, as he overcomes obstacles to become a service dog. Despite humble beginnings, he encounters friends who teach him about perseverance, compassion, and unlocking his true potential. Facing extraordinary challenges, Andy's courage and abilities are tested, but his heart of gold propels him forward. This uplifting story celebrates the resilience within even the smallest creatures, reminding us that unlikely heroes can emerge from unexpected places.
DOGSVILLE
52 minutes: Canada
A Film by: Rosvita Dransfeld, ID Productions
Dogsville is a tale of love and passion, a Shakespearean drama set in the world of dog sports. The unsung hero is a fiery ball of energy called Crocodile Crunch. The mutt, found abandoned at a horse auction, lacks the lines of pedigree treasured by her rivals. Nonetheless she has risen to the top in the agility world. Along her teammates, Radical Rabbit and Posh Piranha, she competes against the best purebred dogs in the world at the Agility World Championship in the Netherlands. Crocodile Crunch is determined to prove that talent and heart can defeat bloodlines and privilege.
THE COMFORTER: PENNY RUTHBERG
8 minutes: Australia
A film by: Brad Harris
Penny Ruthberg is an artist on an emotional quest to capture the essence of man’s best friend through her ceramics. Operating from her studio in rugged Tasmania, Penny’s interdisciplinary art practice investigates the profound bond between humans and canines that has existed across cultures throughout history. More than just sculptures, her pieces attempt to interpret the inner life and individuality of each dog subject - their quirks, emotions, and spirits immortalised in clay. Her work is a celebration of our kindred relationship with these faithful companions and a window into the soul of canis familiaris.
A DOG’S TALE
9 minutes: USA
A film by: Anthill Media
The freedom of the trail is what so many of us long for and so do many of our most loyal companions. Millions of canines enjoy their homes and lives in metropolitan areas, but there’s something about the primal instinct to feel the forest floor under their paws and smelling a thousand different smells, all surrounded by the best friends one could ask for. This is a trail dog’s life, one cherished by both dogs and their humans every time they head out for a ride together.
MAN’S FIRST FRIEND (custom tour edit)
22 minutes : France
A film by: Boreales & Frederic Fougea
For 20,000 years, dogs have stood steadfast alongside humanity - our first friends, our protectors, our guides in the world. But how did this unbreakable bond begin? We journey through the remote villages of India where packs of pariah dogs have waged war on marauding monkeys to protect the livelihoods of banana plantation owners for centuries. In the forbidding elevations of the Tibetan Plateau, we bear witness to the ancient Mastiff lines developed by nomadic tribes to fearlessly guard their camps and herds against predators and thieves.
ABBEY AND THE BULL BREEDS
9 minutes : New Zealand
A film by: Frank Film
Abbey van der Plas has made it her life’s mission to give abandoned and misjudged bull breed dogs a second chance at life and love. From her Bull Breed Rescue Centre in Christchurch, she takes in staffies, pitbulls, rotties and mastiffs that would otherwise face euthanasia - seeing beyond their muscular builds and stereotyped reputations to the enduring spirit and loyalty that lies within.
As Abbey opens the doors to her rescue’s safe haven, providing medical care, training and most importantly a second chance at a forever family for each bull breed dog, we witness firsthand the indelible impact one person’s empathy and compassion can have.
Tour Dates
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Canberra, Wednesday, 21 August 7:00pm - 9:45pm, National Film & Sound Archives
NEW SOUTH WALES
Avoca Beach, Saturday, 31 August 7:00pm- 9:45pm, Avoca Beach Picture Theatre Brunswick Heads, Saturday, 3 August 2:00pm - 4:45pm, Brunswick Picture House Coffs Harbour, Saturday, 17 August 2:00pm - 4:45pm, Jetty Memorial Theatre Katoomba, Sunday, 25 August 2:00pm - 4:45pm, United Cinemas
Newcastle, Wednesday, 21 August 7:00pm - 9:45pm, Kotara Event Cinemas Randwick, Sunday, 25 August 2:00pm-4:45pm, Ritz Cinema
Cremorne, Sunday, 18 August 2:00pm-4:45pm, Hayden Orpheum Thirroul, Saturday, 7 September 2:00pm - 4:45pm, Anita's Theatre
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Alice Springs, Saturday 31 August 2:00pm - 4:45pm, Araluen Arts Centre Darwin, Thursday, 22 August 7:00pm - 9:45pm, Deckchair Cinema
QUEENSLAND
Brisbane, Saturday, 10 August 2:00pm - 4:45pm, Brisbane Powerhouse Cairns, Saturday, 17 August 2:00pm - 4:45pm, CPAC
Surfers Paradise, Saturday, 24 August 2:30pm - 5:15pm, HOTA – Cinemas Noosa Heads, Saturday, 3 August 2:00pm - 4:45pm, THE J
Townsville, Wednesday, 14 August 7:00pm - 9:45pm, Warrina Cineplex
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Adelaide, Saturday, 10 August 2:00pm - 4:45pm, Capri Theatre
TASMANIA
Hobart, Saturday, 24 August 2:00pm - 4:45pm, The Farrall Centre – The Friends' School Launceston, Saturday, 17 August 2:00pm - 4:45pm, The Tramsheds
VICTORIA
Geelong, Thursday, 8 August 6:30pm - 9:15pm, Village Cinemas
Melbourne, Tuesday, 27 August 7:00pm - 9:45pm, The Astor Theatre
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Margaret River, Saturday, 17 August 2:00pm - 5:45pm, Margaret River HEART Perth, Friday, 9 August 7:00pm - 9:45pm, State Theatre Centre of WA Perth, Saturday, 10 August 2:00pm - 4:45pm, State Theatre Centre of WA