In an unprecedented awards season move, indie studio IFC has published an open letter to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The open letter was signed by none other than Indy, the dog star who broke out with “Good Boy.” The letter is both humorous and heartfelt, calling for the inclusion of animal actors in the Oscars’ acting categories and arguing that it’s time for Hollywood to give four-legged actors the recognition they deserve.
“Despite the acclaim of my role in the recent film Good Boy, I was deemed ineligible for Best Actor,” Indy laments in a letter obtained exclusively by Variety and distributed by IFC. “Apparently I’m not boy enough for you.”
This campaign is supported by IFC’s strong box office performance. “Good Boy” opened with $2.2 million, marking the second best opening weekend in IFC history behind 2024’s “Late Night with the Devil” ($2.8 million). It also ranks as the third-biggest opening weekend across IFC Entertainment Group, behind this year’s record-breaking release of The Clown in the Cornfield under the RLJE Films banner.
Indy’s letter references a long and storied tradition of emotionally resonant animals — Jed the wolf dog in “White Fang,” the whale in “Free Willy,” and the famous pig in “Babe,” among others, which was nominated for Best Picture but failed to take home the top spot as the year’s most notable performance.
“How many great performances will we have to miss before the Academy throws us a bone?” Indy asks.
Critics agree that Indy’s performance is award-worthy, with IndieWire calling him “one of the most emotional actors of his generation.”
The IFC campaign gained momentum after the film’s trailer and poster were released in July, garnering more than 100 million views across platforms, the company’s largest reach in its history. Initially planned as a modest release, Good Boys’ release was expanded to include a nationwide theatrical release, making it the second-highest number of weekend theaters in IFC history.
In the last line of his letter, Indy sends a poignant message to the Academy. “Please stop belittling the contributions of me and the many great animal actors whose work remains unappreciated.”
It remains to be seen whether this letter will bring about real change within the academy, but in a time that feels like the end of days, letters like this bring a smile to faces. Nevertheless, IFC’s campaign could spark much-needed debate in Hollywood. And Indy, the most outstanding boy, has become the unexpected face (and fur) of a new kind of awards season movement.
The full text of the letter is below.
