“A movie in which different animals need to survive by relying on each other.”
In 2024, Gints Zilbaloids directed an animated film originally titled Straum, later retitled Flow. The film tells the story of a solitary cat struck by a flood, which resulted in the destruction of its home. The cat eventually finds refuge with various other animals on a boat as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world.
Glints Zilbaloids’ Inspiration
Every artist or director has inspirations. Gints Zilbaloids shares his experiences that led to the film. The idea originated during his high school days about a cat overcoming its fear of water. He later expanded the story to explore themes of trust, collaboration, and teamwork. Zilbaloids was also inspired by his two pet cats. The film’s narrative incorporates elements of survival and relationships, emphasizing the importance of finding acceptance within a group.
Flow’s Awards
- Academy Awards (2025): Won Best Animated Feature Film.
- Golden Globe Awards (2025): Won Best Motion Picture – Animated.
- Annecy International Animation Film Festival (2024): Multiple awards, including Best Original Music and Audience Award for Best Feature.
- European Film Awards (2024): Won European Animated Feature Film.
- César Awards (2025): Won Best Animated Film.
- Annie Awards (2025): Won Best Animated Independent Feature and Outstanding Achievement in Writing for an Animated Feature.
Flow competed with two major animated companies and films at the recent Oscars: The Wild Robot and Inside Out 2. Considering that the animation team is independent and used Blender—a free software for rendering—this was quite significant against DreamWorks and Disney’s proprietary animation software.
Bagging the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film, Flow’s win marked a historic achievement as the first Latvian film to receive this honor. Inside Out 2 was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film but did not win. The Wild Robot was also nominated for Best Animated Feature Film but did not secure the award.
The Flow Effect
The appreciation for black cats flowed phenomenally. This trend, dubbed the “Flow Effect,” was celebrated as a promotion of acceptance for black cats, which are often overlooked due to bad luck and superstitions. Surprisingly and heartwarmingly, it positively impacted black cat adoption rates worldwide. However, some animal welfare organizations have raised concerns about ensuring that these adoptions are responsible and not just driven by the movie’s popularity.
It’s amazing how a film can inspire positive change! Would you like to know more about the movie or its impact? Have you seen Flow? What are your thoughts on the adoption of black cats? Should we talk more about the movie or discuss another one? Comment down below!
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