Indie hit ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ deemed ineligible at SAG Awards

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The independent-film hit “Beasts of the Southern Wild” will be ineligible for the Screen Actors Guild Awards because its stars were not professional actors.

Guild officials said Monday that “Beasts” was not made under provisions of the union’s contracts.

The producers have until Oct. 25 to bring the film into guild compliance to become eligible for the awards, though that likely would mean paying the actors more money.

Director Benh Zeitlin cast locals in his film set in rural Louisiana, including his two stars, first-time actors Quvenzhane (kwah-VAHN’-jah-nay) Wallis as a 6-year-old wild child, and Dwight Henry as her father.

“Beasts” is a critical darling, winning top honours at the Sundance Film Festival, so sitting out the Jan. 27 SAG Awards will not necessarily hurt its Academy Awards prospects.