Latvia’s 'Flow' Wins Best Animated Feature at 2025 Oscars

The dialogue-free indie film made history as Latvia’s first Oscar winner, showcasing the power of independent animation.

'Flow,' a post-apocalyptic animated tale of survival featuring a black cat and other animals, won Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards.
The film, directed by Gints Zilbalodis, is the first Latvian production to win an Oscar and was also nominated for Best International Feature Film.
Created using the open-source software Blender, the film was made on a modest $3.6 million budget, contrasting sharply with its big studio competitors like 'Inside Out 2' and 'The Wild Robot.'
'Flow' has garnered critical acclaim for its unique dialogue-free storytelling, environmental themes, and stunning animation, earning multiple awards this season including a Golden Globe.
The film’s historic win is seen as a breakthrough moment for independent animation, with Zilbalodis expressing hope that it will inspire more global opportunities for smaller studios.