On Wednesday evening, several hundred people gathered at the Freedom Monument to greet the creators of the animated film “Flow” (“Straume”), as observed by news agency LETA.
According to the State Police, approximately 500 people attended the event. The team was met with loud cheers, the choir’s performance of “Rīga dimd”, and a heartfelt reception. The filmmakers also laid flowers at the monument, and musicians Intars Busulis and Reinis Sējāns performed alongside their band.
Director Gints Zilbalodis expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported the film, including his team and even the film’s animated characters—cats, dogs, capybaras, birds, and lemurs. He encouraged everyone to ride this wave of success while continuing to move forward, expressing hope that “we will be back on all these stages.”
At the Riga Airport reception, Zilbalodis shared how much he had been looking forward to coming home. He also noted that the past year had been a remarkable one for animation and was overjoyed by winning Latvia’s first-ever Oscar.
He emphasized that the film production would not have been possible without the support of colleagues from France and Belgium.
Producer and co-writer Matīss Kaža told the crowd at the Freedom Monument that Flow’s success represents a victory for independent animation, as the film was not produced by major Hollywood or Japanese studios.
The success of the “Flow” shows that we have invented the limits ourselves, but if you work hard, you can achieve a lot, said Kaža. He also joked about learning to button a jacket the correct way, referencing a wardrobe mishap during the Oscars ceremony.
At the airport reception, Kaža said he could feel the support not just from Latvia, but from everywhere the film was screened. He emphasized the importance of artists receiving recognition for their work.
Dita Rietuma, head of the National Film Center, reminded attendees that “Flow’s” journey began more than five years ago, with its international success unfolding over the past six months. When the film premiered, no one could have predicted how far it would go, she said. Rietuma also pointed out that Latvia now holds the world’s most prestigious film awards, thanks to “Flow”.
Zilbalodis’ former teacher, Dzintars Krūmiņš, encouraged young creatives to dare, have a clear vision, move forward without compromising, and follow their passion—because if you love what you do, the rest of the world will too.
Many attendees waved Latvian flags, while others carried small Oscar statuettes. Some fans had face paint featuring the film’s main character, the black cat, and the crowd held signs with messages such as “Proud, very proud” and “Latvia can”.
Following the ceremony, the filmmakers signed autographs and took photos with fans.
Before arriving at the Freedom Monument, the “Flow” team was greeted at Riga Airport, where a choir performed Latvia’s national anthem. The team and film supporters then had the opportunity to take photos together.
The filmmakers and media representatives were transported from the airport to the Freedom Monument in a special “Rīgas Satiksme” bus, decorated in Latvia’s national colours with the slogan “Vienā laivā” (In the same boat). The bus was escorted by the State Police.
As previously reported, “Flow” won Latvia’s first-ever Oscar at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, taking home the award for Best Animated Feature Film. The film was also nominated for Best International Feature Film.
During his Oscar acceptance speech, Zilbalodis thanked his family, his team, his cat and dog, and reminded everyone that “we are all in the same boat” and must overcome differences to work together.
“Flow” is a 3D-animated story about an individualistic cat who is forced to leave home due to massive floods and take refuge in a small boat with other animals. To survive in a new, uninhabited world, the cat must adapt and learn to collaborate with a dog, a capybara, a lemur, and a bird.
The creative team of “Flow” includes director, producer, screenwriter and artist Zilbalodis, producer and co-writer Kaža, producers Ron Dyens and Gregory Zalcman, sound engineer Gurval Koik-Gallas, chief animator Léo Silly-Pelissier, music composers Zilbalodis and Rihards Zaļupe, visual effects artists Konstantīns Višņevskis and Mārtiņš Upītis.