International Oscar Race: Latvia Submits Annecy Award Winner ‘Flow’

Latvia has selected Gints Zilbalodis’ “Flow” as its entry in the best international feature category of the 97th Academy Awards. The animated feature had its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival and won four prizes at Annecy.

Sideshow and Janus Films acquired North American rights to the film out of Cannes and are planning a theatrical release this year.

At Annecy, “Flow” won the Audience Award, the Jury Award, the special prize for original music and the Gan Foundation Award for Distribution. It will also screen at the Toronto Film Festival next month.

“Flow” follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird and a dog to navigate a boat in search of dry land, they must rely on trust, courage and wits to survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet.

The film was co-written by Zilbalodis and Matiss Kaza, with a score by Zilbalodis and Rihards Zalupe. It was produced by Zilbalodis and Kaza, alongside Ron Dyens and Gregory Zalcman.

Zilbalodis’ “Away” won the Contrechamp Award for Best Film at Annecy in 2019.

Latvia’s selection was made by the Latvian Selection Committee, a commission of film industry experts established by the National Film Center.

The 97th Academy Awards will take place on March 2. The Oscars shortlists will be announced on Dec. 17, and nominations will be revealed on Jan. 17. The submission deadline for the International Feature Film category is Oct. 2. The eligibility period for the category is Nov. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024.