Top dogs captured on film

A SELECTION of curated canine films will play on the big screen at Geelong’s Village Cinema when the Top Dog Film Festival returns later this month.

Returning for another season on August 20, the new line-up of films celebrates the bonds shared between humans and dogs.

This year’s film festival features a piece produced by the Top Dog Film Festival team, shot across three different continents. Canine Concierge showcases the lives of three hotel dogs.

Festival founder and director Jemima Robinson said the team was excited to present a film of its own this year.

“Canine Concierge captures the spirit of everything the Top Dog Film Festival stands for – joy, connection, and the incredible way dogs bring comfort and character into every space they inhabit,” Ms Robinson said.

“It’s a love letter to the dogs who welcome us, calm us, and remind us we’re never truly alone.”

The idea for the film came when Ms Robinson heard about Archie, one of the dogs in the film, who works at a hotel in Launceston.

“I thought it was really lovely idea, a lot of people don’t like leaving their dogs when they go on holiday, but these hotels actually have dogs to come and greet you.

“We did a bit of research and realised that this is a thing around the world, there’s a lot of hotels that have dogs and the story grew from there.

“I just love that you can go check out a dog and take them for a walk around the local area and I thought it was a really interesting story and something that I think other people would be interested in as well.”

Designed to be more than just a film festival, the annual event also celebrates the unconditional love, loyalty and laughter dogs can bring into the lives of humans.

Ms Robinson, a self-proclaimed dog lover herself, started the festival after attending one in Canada about dog-powered sports and after returning to Australia, she couldn’t find anything similar.

 

“I think that people come away from it with appreciation for dogs because we all appreciate our own pets, but the films show you the incredible things that dogs do around the world,” she said.

Now in its ninth year, the 2025 film festival is also more accessible, with every film including on-screen subtitles. This initiative will support people who are hard of hearing and deaf, along with those whose second language is English, neurodivergent viewers and anyone else who benefits from it.

For tickets and more information, head to topdogfilmfestival.com.au.