A scene from the film ‘Flow’, the Best Animated Picture winner at Oscar 2025.
At the 97th Academy Awards, Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis made history as his film Flow wins the Oscar 2025 for Best Animated Feature. This marks the first-ever Academy Award win for a Latvian production.
The film, a wordless animated parable, captivated audiences with its unique storytelling, proving that emotions can be conveyed without dialogue. A Historic Win for Independent Animation indeed.
A Visual Masterpiece Created with Blender
Flow was brought to life using Blender, a free, open-source graphics software. The film combines a dreamlike animation style with a post-apocalyptic setting. It follows a black cat, a dog, a capybara, a ring-tailed lemur, and a secretary bird as they navigate a world submerged in water.
With no spoken words, the film relies on music, movement, and sound to tell its compelling story. Speaking about his creative approach, Zilbalodis said, "I think you can express a lot more without words. Some emotions and ideas are better communicated through sound and visuals rather than dialogue."
An Emotional Moment for the Director
This is only Zilbalodis' second film as a director, making the Oscar win even more remarkable. Overwhelmed with gratitude, he expressed his appreciation on stage.
"Thank you to my mom and dad. Thank you to my cats and dogs. I’m really moved by the warm reception our film has received. This is the first time a Latvian film has ever been nominated, and it means the world to us."
He also shared his hope that Flow would inspire independent animation filmmakers worldwide.
From left, Gints Zibalodis, Matiss Kaza, Ron Dynes and Gregory Zalcman, winners of the award for best animated feature for ‘Flow, ’ pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 02, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in L.A. (AP Photo)
A Season of Awards and Recognition
The Oscar win is the latest achievement for Flow, which had already gained attention during the awards season. The film won Best Animated Feature at the Golden Globe Awards and received nominations from the Critics Choice Awards, Annie Awards, and BAFTAs.
Produced by Matīss Kaža, Ron Dyens, and Gregory Zalcman, Flow is a collaborative effort between Latvia, France, and Belgium. It was also nominated for Best International Feature Film, marking another milestone for Latvian cinema.
Tough Competition in the Animated Category
The film triumphed over some major contenders, including:
- The Wild Robot – another visually stunning animation
- Inside Out 2 – Disney’s highest-grossing movie of the year
- Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl – a stop-motion fan favorite
- Memoir of a Snail – a critically acclaimed Claymation film
Despite the stiff competition, Flow stood out for its artistic vision and immersive storytelling.
Iranian Film “In the Shadow of the Cypress” Wins Animated Short Oscar
In another historic win, Iranian filmmakers Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi took home their first Oscar for Best Animated Short Film with In the Shadow of the Cypress.
The film explores the relationship between a father, a former sea captain suffering from PTSD, and his daughter. It is only the second Iranian animated or live-action short film to be nominated at the Oscars—and the first to win.
Challenges and Future Plans for Iranian Filmmakers
Molayemi highlighted the difficulties of filmmaking in Iran, saying, "We live under sanctions, our national currency is shrinking, and the economic crisis makes things even harder." Despite these challenges, Sohani revealed their ambition to work on a full-length animated feature film next.
The wins for Flow and In the Shadow of the Cypress at Oscar 2025, mark an important moment for global independent animation, proving that compelling storytelling can transcend borders and languages.
