Awards Show Goes to the Dogs

LONDON, Oct. 22, 2007 — -- First there was the Oscars, then the Golden Globes, and now, it's time for the Fido Awards.

A newcomer to the awards season, the Fidos -- an attempt to recognize canine contributions to film -- will make its debut as part of the London Film Festival Oct. 28. The rules for nomination are simple: consistency of performance, charismatic on-screen presence, and … the ability to bark on cue.

The awards are the brainchild of Toby Rose, previously the creator of the Palm Dog Award, which is part of the Cannes Film Festival.

In an interview with ABC News, Rose said the reasons behind the Fidos were simple.

"Dogs are key, pivotal characters on the big screen, but they never get any recognition for their work," he explained.

Apparently, a bone or two just doesn't cut it with today's canine superstars.

The front-runners at this year's Fidos are no less than companions to "The Queen" herself.

The five corgis who performed alongside Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren in last year's box office smash "The Queen" are reported to be shoo-ins for the "Historical Hound" Fido category.

ABC News tracked down their owner, Liz Smith, at her home in Little Blakenham, England, and asked her how it felt to be living with no fewer than five celebrities under her roof.

"It's amazing," she said."News of this award nomination came right out of the blue. In fact, I can hardly speak, I am so excited!"

Along with the five corgis -- Alice, Poppy, Megan, Anna and Oliver -- nominated for Fidos, Smith also owns five other dogs who make appearances at various dog shows across the U.K.

After the success of "The Queen" -- only their second movie -- she hopes "to feature them in more films."

"The award is a lovely idea," she enthused, adding, "it will motivate them to work harder."

There was a lot of work involved in their performance, Smith told ABC News. "No one was allowed to make a fuss of them because we had to make sure they had no distractions," she said.

Despite all the work, however, the corgis enjoyed their stint on camera. According to Smith, the dogs "got on very well" with their on-screen queen, Mirren.