The 9th Annual Astra Film Awards in Los Angeles was hosted on January 9, 2026. And perhaps the most surprising win went to … a dog. Indy the Dog won the Best Performance in a Horror or Thriller award for Good Boy, a category that included human actors such as Ethan Hawke and Alison Brie. Indy became the first animal to be nominated for and win the award.
Indy’s Best Performance
Indy is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever who stars in the 2025 horror film Good Boy. The film, directed by Ben Leonberg, follows its canine protagonist as it attempts to protect its human companion from a supernatural threat. The movie is unusual in genre filmmaking because it is told largely from the perspective of a dog, giving viewers a sensory‑driven point of view rather than a traditional human narration.
Indy the dog being held in the horror movie Good Boy – YouTube, IFC FIlms
The award marks a rare instance of an animal performer winning a competitive acting prize in a category typically dominated by human talent.Indy competed directly with actors including Ethan Hawke (Black Phone 2), Alison Brie (Together), Sally Hawkins (Bring Her Back), Sophie Thatcher (Companion), and Alfie Williams (28 Years Later).
The Astra Awards have increasingly highlighted genre work, and this year’s ceremony included several nominations across horror and thriller films. Indy’s award stands out because it was not a special honorary recognition but a standard category prize open to any nominee.
The Acceptance Speech
Ben Leonberg, who also owns Indy, accepted the award on the dog’s behalf. In a pre‑recorded acceptance message shown during the ceremony, Leonberg acknowledged the unusual nature of the win and expressed gratitude to the film’s cast, crew, and animal trainers. He said the horror genre allows creative exploration and credited the trainers who worked closely with Indy during production.
Leonberg joked about the somewhat novel experience of having a dog winning the award saying, “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.” He continued, “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.”
The decision by the voting body drew varied reactions online, with some observers noting the historical significance of an animal winning such a category and others questioning the comparison between animal behavior and human acting craft in competitive contexts.
Good Boy is available on streaming platforms, including Shudder and other video‑on‑demand services.
Have you seen Indy in Good Boy, and what do you think of him winning an acting award? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
