In an unprecedented move that has taken Hollywood by storm, Indy, the canine star of the horror film “Good Boy,” has become the face of a groundbreaking campaign asking the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize animal actors for their contributions to cinema. The playful yet pointed initiative, distributed by IFC on October 9, 2025, has already garnered over 100 million views and sparked serious conversations about the future of awards recognition[2].
A Dog’s Plea for Recognition
The open letter, signed with Indy’s paw print, makes a compelling case for why animal performers deserve consideration alongside their human counterparts. “How many great performances must go overlooked before the Academy throws us a bone?” the letter asks, noting that Indy was deemed ineligible for Best Actor despite delivering what many critics are calling a haunting and emotionally resonant performance[2].
The campaign cleverly plays on Hollywood’s long history of memorable animal performances while highlighting a fundamental inequity in how the industry recognizes talent. Citing decades of beloved animal roles that have moved audiences worldwide, the letter urges the Academy to stop “lifting your leg” on animal performers—a tongue-in-cheek reference that has helped the campaign go viral across social media platforms[2].
The Film Behind the Movement
“Good Boy” is a 2025 supernatural horror film that breaks new ground by telling its story entirely from a dog’s perspective. Directed by Ben Leonberg in his feature directorial debut and co-written with Alex Cannon, the film stars Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman, Larry Fessenden, and Indy himself in the title role[3]. What makes the film particularly special is that Indy is Leonberg’s real-life dog, bringing an authentic connection to the performance that resonates throughout the haunted house narrative.
The film premiered at South by Southwest (SXSW) on March 10, 2025, before receiving a theatrical release through Independent Film Company (IFC) and Shudder on October 3, 2025[3]. Its opening weekend brought in $2.2 million, providing IFC Entertainment Group with the momentum needed to launch their ambitious awards season push[2].
Critical Acclaim and Festival Recognition
While the Academy has yet to weigh in on Indy’s eligibility, the film has already received recognition from the genre film circuit. “Good Boy” earned nominations at several prestigious festivals, including the Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival for Best Motion Picture, and the Festival EuropĂ©en du Film Fantastique de Strasbourg for Best International Feature Film[1]. The film also received a Fresh Blood Award nomination at Fantasy Filmfest, cementing its status as one of 2025’s most innovative horror offerings[1].
Critics have praised the film’s unique perspective and emotional depth. Rotten Tomatoes describes it as “a visually striking, emotionally devastating horror film that eschews genre conventions to deliver a uniquely haunting and conceptually ambitious” experience[4].
The Broader Conversation
IFC’s campaign arrives at an interesting moment for the Academy, which earlier this year announced the addition of a new stunt-design category—proof that the organization is willing to expand its recognition of different types of filmmaking excellence[2]. Whether this signals an openness to considering animal performances remains uncertain, but the viral success of the campaign has undeniably forced the conversation into the mainstream.
The initiative raises important questions about what constitutes a “performance” and who deserves recognition for bringing characters to life on screen. Animal actors have been captivating audiences since the earliest days of cinema, yet they remain systematically excluded from major awards consideration.
What’s Next
While IFC has not announced additional plans following “Good Boy’s” nationwide debut, Indy has already secured his place as the unexpected face of a new awards-season movement[2]. The campaign’s viral success—reaching over 100 million viewers—demonstrates that audiences are ready to have this conversation, even if the Academy isn’t quite there yet.
As awards season heats up, all eyes will be on whether the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences responds to Indy’s letter. Regardless of the outcome, the campaign has already achieved something remarkable: forcing Hollywood to reconsider its definition of acting talent and who deserves a seat at the table when excellence is celebrated.
Sources:
[1] IMDb - Good Boy (2025) Awards: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35521922/awards/
[2] Ground News - Dog Star of Horror Film ‘Good Boy’ Pens Letter: https://ground.news/article/indy-the-dog-from-horror-movie-good-boy-asks-oscars-to-consider-animal-actors-throw-us-a-bone
[3] Wikipedia - Good Boy (2025 Leonberg film): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Boy_(2025_Leonberg_film)
[4] Rotten Tomatoes - Good Boy (2025): https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/good_boy_2025