The critically lauded animated masterpiece, "Flow," which premiered to global acclaim at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and was proudly chosen as Latvia's official contender for the Best International Feature Oscar, is poised for a triumphant awards-season release in the United States. Slated to open its doors in New York and Los Angeles on November 22, it will then embark on a nationwide journey through Janus Films and Sideshow in the subsequent weeks.
Helmed by the visionary director Gints Zilbalodis, "Flow" weaves a heart-wrenching tale of a fearless feline whose serene abode is shattered by a devastating flood. Joined in solidarity by an unlikely alliance of a capybara, a lemur, a soaring bird, and a loyal dog, this intrepid cat embarks on a treacherous voyage aboard a boat, in a quest for dry land amidst the raging waters. United by trust and bravery, this unconventional band of friends must navigate the perilous landscape of their newly aquatic world.
Backed by Janus Films and Sideshow, the same formidable duo responsible for Oscar-nominated gems like "EO," "All That Breathes," and "Drive My Car" (the latter also receiving accolades for Best Picture and winning Best International Feature), "Flow" is set to receive a robust promotional campaign. Should it secure nominations in both the International Feature and Animated Feature categories, it would follow in the footsteps of the esteemed "Flee" (2021), which also garnered a nod for Best Documentary Feature, further solidifying its place among cinematic milestones.
Yet, "Flow" is not alone in its quest for cinematic immortality this year. Focus Features' "Piece by Piece," a captivating Lego-inspired documentary chronicling the life of Pharrell Williams, also aims to make waves in both the documentary and animation categories.
This silent animated marvel, which screened in the esteemed Un Certain Regard section at Cannes in May, has already garnered four prestigious accolades at the Annecy Film Festival in June: the Audience Award, Jury Award, Special Prize for Original Music, and the Gan Foundation Award for Distribution. Boasting a flawless 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, "Flow" has been hailed by Peter Debruge, Variety's esteemed chief film critic, as "hypnotic" and "radically different from the norm, with a design that's oddly reminiscent of video games."
Zilbalodis, who doubles as the film's composer alongside Rihards Zalupe and co-writer with Matiss Kaza, also produced "Flow" alongside Ron Dyens and Gregory Zalcman. With his feature debut, "Away," Zilbalodis made waves at just 24 years old, winning the Contrechamp Prize for Best Feature Film at Annecy and subsequently screening at over 85 festivals, including an Annie Award nomination. "Flow" will also grace Benelux screens via Le Parc Distribution and UFO in France in October, marking yet another milestone in its triumphant journey.
