Flow, a groundbreaking Latvian animated film, has won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, making history as the first Latvian film ever to be nominated for an Academy Award.
The dialogue-free movie triumphed in a category that included heavyweight contenders such as Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot, proving its global appeal and artistic excellence.
The film, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival, follows the heartfelt journey of a cat seeking refuge after its home is devastated by a flood.
Directed by Gints Zilbalodis, Flow is his second full-length feature, after Away (2019), and was created using free and open-source software, Blender, which Zilbalodis began using in 2019.
In his acceptance speech, an emotional Zilbalodis thanked his parents, as well as his cats and dogs. “We are all in the same boat and must overcome our differences to find ways to work together,” he said, sharing the film’s central message of unity and resilience.
With global earnings of $20 million, Flow has become the highest-grossing Latvian film in history, and its success was further cemented by its Golden Globe win for Best Animated Film earlier this year.
Zilbalodis spoke to the New York Times about the film’s widespread success, suggesting that it offers an optimistic, hopeful message at a time when people are tired of bad news. “Perhaps this film represents something that feels optimistic and hopeful in regard to the country’s self-esteem,” he explained.
The film has garnered widespread praise and support, including from Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, who celebrated the Oscar win, calling it a “great moment for the team and Latvia.”
Flow’s triumph marks a monumental achievement not just for Latvian cinema, but for the global animation community. Last year’s Oscar for Best Animated Feature was awarded to Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron.
