Forget Naomi, Halle and Sienna, the best goddamn bitches in the entire Times BFI London Film Festival were out in force yesterday for the inaugural Fido Film Awards. For dogs in movies.

Award founder Toby Rose has been bigging up the planet's best acting pooches for seven years at the Cannes Film Festival with his hugely popular Palm Dog award. Yesterday it was London's turn.

An Oscar was always on the cards for Dame Helen Mirren's portrayal of the monarch in the massively successful British film The Queen.

But some of its more unlikely stars have now also been recognised for their contribution: the five corgis used to represent the Queen's favourite pets.

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The corgis Poppy, Anna, Alice, Oliver and Megan were named "Best Historical Hounds" and "Best in World" at awards at the BFI Southbank.

The awards, which are the world's first ever international awards ceremony for canine stars of the silver screen, were revealed at the Times BFI 51st London Film Festival.

Dame Helen, who is currently filming in America, said of her four-legged co-stars: "I know one should avoid acting with animals and children but these little chaps were a pleasure to work with and deserve all the plaudits for their fine performances."

The dogs are owned by Liz Smith, a retired outside caterer from Little Blakenham in Ipswich.

She and her husband Colin were approached to help with the film after the dogs were spotted at an obedience competition by an animal consultant for film and television.

Her corgis have since gone on to co-star in a BBC series alongside Jane Horrocks.

The two Fido awards mean the Queen's trophy tally has now risen to 59, after its success at the Oscars and the BAFTAs and other ceremonies following its release last year.

A Welsh cardigan corgi called Travis completed the dog breed's domination of the awards by being named "Best Comedy Canine" for his role in Year of the Dog.

Travis had to learn how to walk in a doggie wheelchair to play a severely handicapped dog in the film.

The awards were presented by Oscar-nominated Chariots of Fire director Hugh Hudson, James Bond star Maryam D'Abo, Carol Thatcher, Christopher Biggins and designer Lulu Guinness.

They were produced by Toby Rose, also the producer of the prestigious Palm Dog Award at the Cannes Film Festival.

He said: "The inaugural Fidos are a first in more ways than one: the first time that an international A-list film festival has included invited dogs onto the official programme, and the first time they have been allowed into the National Film Theatre building.

"Dogs have truly come in from the cold for this first event of its kind, in what has been a hotly contested contest."

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