The Westminster Kennel Club hosted a special screening of “The Friend” in New York City and it was certainly a barking good time.
Guests gathered down in Soho at the landmark Angelika Film Center to see the film that will make you both laugh and cry and reflect on the power of a pet – even when you least expect a creature to come into your life and make you see the world in a whole new way.
Hosted by The Westminster Kennel Club, Don Sturz, President of The Westminster Kennel Club and Bev Klingensmith, Owner/Handler and Bing, the champion Great Dane, gave opening remarks during the special appearance.
From the premiere with Bill Murray, Naomi Watts, Bing ( David Benthal/BFA)
“The Friend,” based on the beloved book of the same name by Sigrid Nunez, moved and inspired the audience in grand ways that filled the heart with reminders about why life with our pets is so precious. It also was a moment that spotlighted the importance of the club, which, established in 1877, is America’s oldest organization dedicated to the sport of dogs. It hosts the iconic, all-breed Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the second-longest, continuously held sporting event in the U.S., and since 1948, the longest nationally televised live dog show.
The annual dog show—a conformation competition for purebred dogs—and the Masters Agility Championship and Masters Obedience Championship— where dogs from all backgrounds are eligible to compete—make Westminster Week, with its nearly 3,000 dogs from the U.S. and around the world a pinnacle experience for any dog lover. America’s Dog Show has captivated canine enthusiasts for more than a century.
The Club’s mission, which enhances the lives of all dogs, celebrates the companionship of dogs, promotes responsible dog ownership, and breed preservation.
Check out the trailer here and be sure to see the film that will have you crying happy tears and filling you with sweeping moments this weekend.