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Flow (2024 film)

Flow is a 2024 animated independent adventure film directed by Gints Zilbalodis and written and produced by Zilbalodis with Matīss Kaža.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Flow is a 2024 animated independent adventure film directed by Gints Zilbalodis. The dialogue-free film follows a cat and several other animals trying to survive in a flooded, seemingly post-apocalyptic world. It is a Latvian, French, and Belgian co-production and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Premise

The story follows a cat trying to survive in a world affected by a dramatic rise in water levels. The film features animal characters and no dialogue, presenting survival and cooperation in a flooded, post-apocalyptic setting.

Production

Flow was made as an independent animated film and is credited as a Latvian, French, and Belgian co-production. It was written and produced by Gints Zilbalodis and Matīss Kaža, with Zilbalodis directing.

Release

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section on 22 May 2024. It was released in Latvian cinemas on 29 August 2024. Later releases brought it to broader international audiences.

Reception and awards

Flow received critical acclaim and became the most-viewed film in Latvian theatre history. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards.

Key facts

  • Flow is a dialogue-free animated feature centered on a cat in a rising-flood scenario.
  • The film was directed by Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis and co-written and co-produced with Matīss Kaža.
  • It is a Latvian, French, and Belgian co-production.
  • The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival on 22 May 2024.
  • Flow won Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards.
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Canadian context

The film screened internationally and is of interest to Canadian readers as an award-winning animated feature that was part of the global 2024–2025 awards conversation. No specific Canada-only production or release detail is established in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

What is Flow about?
It follows a cat and other animals trying to survive in a flooded, post-apocalyptic world with no dialogue.
Who directed Flow?
Gints Zilbalodis directed the film.
What languages are spoken in Flow?
The film has no dialogue.
When did Flow premiere?
It premiered on 22 May 2024 at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section.
Did Flow win any major awards?
Yes. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(2024_film)
    Supports: Director, writers, co-production countries, premise, Cannes premiere, Latvian release, critical reception, Latvian box-office records, Academy Award win
  2. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(film,_2024)
    Supports: French-language title, co-production, Cannes premiere, director, release year
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/flow_2024
    Supports: Synopsis, director, genre, runtime, release information, U.S. distribution
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/flow-animated-film-review
    Supports: Dialogue-free nature, setting without people, Latvian Oscar submission, general critical framing
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4772188/
    Supports: Plot overview and general film description