The Cannes Festival isn't like the Oscars, where the list of prize categories rarely varies. Almost anyone can give a prize to a film in Cannes. Among the non-official prizes are the Ecumenical prize, which has been given out for decades by a Christian jury -- this year's winner was "Of Gods and Men."

And while Berlin has awarded the Teddy Bear since 1987, this was Cannes' first year for the Queer Palm, which went to Gregg Araki's "Kaboom."

But who knew this was the tenth year for the Palm Dog award to the best dog on film at the festival? This year's mutt? Boss the boxer, who causes a stampede of cows in Stephen Frears' "Tamara Drewe" was awarded the Palm Dog prize, given by British film critics.

"Boss was a complete superstar and was crucial at innumerable plot moments and was the doggy denouement of the film," the awards' originator told AFP. The producer of the film was on hand to accept the prize, a diamante collar.

A special prize also went to Vuk, the goatherd's dog in "Le Quattro Volte."

Cannes, FRANCE (May 21, 2010) – IFC Films, the leading American distributor of independent and foreign films, announced today that the company is acquiring U.S. rights to internationally acclaimed director Bertrand Tavernier’s THE PRINCESS OF MONTPENSIER, which is screening in competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

The film was produced by Eric Heumann, with a screenplay by Jean Cosmos, Francois-Olivier Rousseau and Tavernier, based on the novel by Madame de la Fayette.

by John Hopewell and Elsa Keslassey

First-time helmer Janus Metz' documentary "Armadillo," about two Danish soldiers in Afghanistan, won the Critics' Week Grand Prix at Cannes on Thursday.

Cannes -- May 19, 2010 -- The Wagner/Cuban Companies' Magnolia Pictures announced today that it has acquired US rights to Oscar-winner Alex Gibney’s untitled Eliot Spitzer documentary produced by A&E IndieFilms and Wider Film Projects. A powerful and probing look at the former Governor of New York, the film follows Eliot Spitzer’s career from his days as an attorney general committed to battling Wall Street corruption, to his ignominious fall. The film features revelatory interviews with Spitzer, Wall Street powerbrokers, old enemies from New York's capitol and escorts from the infamous Emperor’s Club, painting a rich and compelling portrait of corruption, hubris and temptation that plays like a high-stakes political thriller. A work-in-progress version was recently unveiled at the Tribeca Film Festival to much fanfare and critical acclaim.

Feeling left out because your company cut back on its Cannes film festival delegation this year? Don't worry, we've got several suggestions to bring a little bit of Cannes to America, without having to deal with that pesky volcanic ash.

1) Set the scene by finding out what's going on in at the festival. Start with Variety's Cannes coverage, then check out some more esoteric offerings. Jeffrey Wells at Hollywood Elsewhere often includes videos taken while he's ambling along the Croisette. If you read French, Nice Matin has a folksy, locals-only feel. Blogger Sasha Stone is covering the fest for the first time for Awards Daily; it's fun to read a newcomer's impressions. Or search hashtag #Cannes on Twitter for a jumble of interesting and/or incomprehensible info. Newsflash: Roger Ebert left his laptop in a cab!

2) Libations are key. Start with the signature drink of the festival, Domaine de Tempier Bandol rose, available at most wine shops. Champagne works too. Serve with fresh oysters, if the oil slick hasn't decimated the supply, while watching something European and inscrutable like Irina Palm, currently available for free on VOD.

3) Re-create a Cannes business lunch someplace French. In the L.A. area, not far from the beach, Santa Monica's Anisette is tres Francais, with the requisite seafood tower. Delphine at the W Hollywood hotel, with its Cannes mural (above), has the setting down. For plenty of French-speaking clientele as well as very credible croissants, try Third St.'s The Little Next Door. Arrange for patio diners to blow smoke around, preferably Gitanes. Pouf! You're in Cannes. What's the most Cannes-like place to eat in Gotham?