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Supporting Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter
The Top Dog Film Festival, Australia's premier showcase of the best dog-themed movies from around the world, comes to Santa Cruz to celebrate the passion of dog lovers. The festival will bring a curated selection of hilarious, heartwarming, and delightfully dog-centric films.
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. As an inclusive and family- friendly event, the Top 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.
Don't miss out on this year's event. It sells out each year. You'd be barking mad to miss it!
BIONIC PETS
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
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
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
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
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)
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.
Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $21
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event Website: www.topdogfilmfestival.com
Event Website: www.scanimalshelter.org
