The canine connection _{by Harry Bartle}

There is no creature more loyal than a dog. These wonderful animals have been by our sides for over 14,000 years, and in that time our bond with them has only grown stronger.

The Top Dog Film Festival celebrates this incredible connection with a selection of inspirational, heartwarming, and entertaining short films about dogs and their human companions from independent filmmakers around the globe. Lucky for Wellington, the festival is on its way to the capital, showing at The Embassy Theatre on the 24^th of August.

The wooftastic event includes six films that have been carefully curated by a dog-loving selection committee. Along with plenty of other adventures, audiences will meet some very heroic dogs who go above and beyond to serve and protect in the Australian film Dogs to the Rescue, before joining Jack the husky and Texas the Jack Russell as they cross an 800-kilometre European alpine range in 2 Dogs, 1 Crossing.

“This family-friendly, loved by all film festival presents a two-hour cinematic celebration honouring the bond between dogs and their people”, Top Dog Film Festival founder Jemima Robinson says.

“Seeing the impact that dogs have on the lives of their owners and those around them never ceases to amaze me. While each of the six films in this year’s programme are very different, the common thread is the incredible impact dogs have on our lives – how they can make us smile, save us from misfortune, provide us with hope, and fill our hearts with love.”