NEW YORK − Step aside, Messi from “Anatomy of a Fall.” There’s a new furry contender for awards season.

Naomi Watts graced the New York Film Festival on Thursday for the premiere of “The Friend,” her latest film where she spends much of her time alongside one notably large co-star: a Great Dane who is humorously oversized.

During the screening, the dog, named Bing, joined Watts on the red carpet and even appeared with her during a Q&A after the film. As the credits rolled, audiences clapped as a spotlight shone on Bing in a theater balcony with his trainer.

“The film would be unimaginable without him,” said co-director David Siegel.

“The Friend,” based on Sigrid Nunez’s 2018 novel, features Watts as Iris, a woman who is grieving the loss of her friend Walter (played by Bill Murray) who has died by suicide. In the lead-up to his death, Walter rescued a Great Dane named Apollo, and now Iris is bewildered and frustrated to learn that she must care for the dog in her New York City apartment, which has a no-dogs policy.

Managing the large dog symbolizes the chaos of grief, particularly the sorrow that comes after losing someone to suicide. Iris navigates her feelings of sadness and frustration, grappling with questions about Walter’s choices. The film blends physical comedy, like Iris struggling to reclaim her bed from Apollo, with poignant moments that highlight how pets mourn their owners.

Interestingly, although Bill Murray plays a significant role, he was absent from the festival screening. Reports indicated he was in Scotland for a golf event during that time.

“He sends his apologies,” Watts informed the audience. “He truly would have loved to be here to entertain you, but he’s in Scotland playing golf. I said, ‘Hey, how could you miss this?’ and he suggested I come to him instead.”

The Oscar-nominated actress of “Mulholland Drive” personally brought the script and a bottle of wine to Murray to convince him to join the film, noting, “He doesn’t have an agent, or email or anything like that.”

As the story unfolds after Walter’s death, various characters from his life come together, including his ex-wives. Carla Gugino, who stars as one of them, shared during the Q&A that she signed on to the film just days before shooting began after another actress dropped out. After receiving a call from Watts on a Thursday night, she was on set by Monday morning.

Watts found the novel captivating, particularly drawn to the unusual premise of a woman dealing with grief by bonding with a “gigantic beast” that disrupts her order. “The absurdity and beauty of that drew me in,” she shared. She views “The Friend” as part of her ongoing exploration of grief, recognizing that it’s a recurring theme in her career.

“The Friend” is quintessentially a New York story. It was filmed on location in the city, despite co-director Scott McGehee joking that it might have been “much cheaper” to shoot elsewhere. The threat of Iris losing her apartment due to having a dog adds a gripping layer, touching on the apprehension that many New Yorkers feel about losing their rent-controlled homes.

“People outside of New York won’t really understand that fear,” Siegel humorously noted. “But New Yorkers will.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out to the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, available any hour of the day or night, or chat online.