Latvia Celebrates First Oscar with Animated Feature Flow

Latvia Captures Its First Oscar with Gints Zilbalodis’s Flow

Reaching a Historic Milestone

Gints Zilbalodis, a pioneering Latvian filmmaker, made history at the 97th Academy Awards by winning the Best Animated Feature for his wordless short, “Flow”. This triumph marks the first Oscar victory for Latvia.

Key Points

• Latvia’s debut Oscar win.
• “Flow” relies solely on visual storytelling and sound.
• The film’s understated narrative captivated the Academy.
• Zilbalodis thanked the international community for recognizing Latvian creativity.

Impact on Latvian Cinema

The award paves the way for future Latvian filmmakers to shine on the global screen, reinforcing the nation’s growing reputation in the world of animation.

Oscars Night Highlights: Anora’s Triumph and Latvia’s Milestone

In the season’s final big-screen ceremony, the Academy Awards saw a dominant performance from the film Anora, which captured five major accolades. At the same time, the Baltic nation of Latvia celebrated a historic moment by securing the country’s first Oscar for its animated feature Flow.

Key Awards Secured by Anora

• Best Picture
• Best Actress
• Best Director
• Best Supporting Actor
• Best Cinematography

Latvia’s First Academy Award for Flow

Flow’s win marked a new chapter for Latvian cinema, showcasing the nation’s creative talent on the world stage. This award is celebrated as a landmark achievement for the country’s film industry.

Oscars Spotlight: Award Winners Pose in the Press Room

From left to right, Gints Zilbalodis, Matiss Kaza, Ron Dyens, and Gregory Zalcman appeared in the press area after securing the Best Animated Feature award for Flow.

Blender‑Powered Fantasy Adventure

• Flow is built entirely on the free, open‑source software Blender.
• The film features no spoken dialogue, letting visuals, sound, and choreography carry the story.
• The plot follows a unique ensemble—a black cat, a dog, a capybara, a ring‑tailed lemur, and a secretary bird—who navigate a surreal, dreamlike world to survive a massive flood.
• According to Zilbalodis, the lack of words allows music, movement, and editing to convey emotions and ideas that words alone cannot express.

“I feel we can communicate so much more without uttering any words,” Zilbalodis remarked behind the scenes. “With music, sound, movement, and editing, we convey layers of emotion and meaning that would be impossible to articulate verbally.”

Latvian Animated Feature Flow Shines on the World Stage

Inaugural Debut at Cannes

In the prestigious Un Certain Regard program of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, the animated tale Flow opened its curtains to a buzzing international crowd, setting the tone for its subsequent accolades.

Accolades and Awards

• Golden Globe Triumph – Best Motion Picture – Animated
• European Film Awards – Best Animated Film
• Runner‑up positions among finalists such as The Wild Robot, Disney’s Inside Out 2, and beloved claymation titles like Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Memoir of a Snail

Springboard for Latvian Cinema

Director Zilbalodis expressed heartfelt gratitude during the award ceremony, thanking family and companions for their support. He highlighted that this win marks the first “ever” nomination for a Latvian film, underscoring the significance for the nation’s creative community.

Production and International Collaboration

• Key Producers: Matīss Kaža, Ron Dyens, and Gregory Zalcman
• Co‑production countries: Latvia, France, and Belgium
• Nomination for Best International Feature Film, though the prize ultimately went to Brazil’s entry “I’m Still Here”

National Pride and Global Recognition

Prime Minister Evika Siliņa publicly celebrated the achievement on social media, noting the film’s ability to resonate with audiences worldwide. A playful jibe from host Conan O’Brien—“Ball’s in your court, Estonia”—added a lighthearted touch to the ceremony.

What’s Next?

Positioned as a milestone for independent animators, the success of Flow is expected to open doors for creators from the region and beyond. Future projects are anticipated by industry insiders who see this film as a benchmark for storytelling excellence in animation.