Indy the Dog, star of “Good Boy” won the Astra Film Award for Best Performance in a Horror or Thriller Feature. Director Ben Leonberg accepted the award alongside his pup, calling Indy the “goodest boy himself” in a video shared by the Astra Awards to YouTube. Indy is the first animal to be nominated for the acting award.
Indy Accepts His Award
“On behalf of Indy, we are so grateful and thrilled to be recognized for his work in a movie he does not totally understand he was in,” joked Leonberg as he began his canine companion’s acceptance speech. Indy, sporting a black bow tie, sat next to his owner and behind his golden award.
“This award and incredible group of nominees reflects the freedom that horror gives performers–and in our case, trainers–to play, experiment and to push the boundaries,” continued Leonberg.
Leonberg remarked that the horror genre is “fueled by originality and reinvention and by audiences who are the most eager to see something new.” Several horror films, like “Sinners,” “Weapons” and “Frankenstein,” made waves in 2025, bringing fans out in droves to support the eclectic genre.
“To be recognized alongside such amazing actors such as Allison Brie, Ethan Hawke, Sophie Thatcher, Sally Hawkins and Alfie Williams is incredible,” he continued, giving a nod to Indy’s competition. Brie was nominated for “Together,” Hawke for “The Black Phone 2,” Thatcher for “Companion,” Hawkins for “Bring Her Back” and Williams for “28 Years Later.”
“Indy is honored to accept this award, especially knowing that he’s standing alongside performers who didn’t even need to be bribed with treats in order to hit their marks,” said Leonberg.
He also made sure to show his gratitude for the two-legged members of the “Good Boy” team, thanking the “amazing cast and crew” for their “patience, generosity and belief.”
“Thank you again, we are so, so delighted,” Leonberg concluded.
Indy’s ‘Acting’ Process
“Good Boy” is the first horror film to be filmed from the point of view of a dog. The movie follows Indy as he grapples with his owner beginning to behave more and more bizarrely–perhaps due to paranormal activity.
It took three years to film “Good Boy” as Indy could only shoot scenes for so long before Leonberg decided that he had worked enough for the day. Carefully angled shots and a proper positioning of treats helped Indy’s acting come to life.
Leonberg and his wife, Kari Fischer, acted as body doubles for the lead characters, later dubbing over the lines with other actors. This set-up helped Indy to be comfortable on set and made his performance appear more “natural.”
Leonberg joked in a Mashable interview that Indy is a “method actor.”
