Gints Zilbalodis (born 1994) is a Latvian filmmaker. He is best known for directing the animated features Away (2019) and Flow (2024), the latter of which received nominations for Best International Feature Film and Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards, making it the first Latvian film to earn multiple nominations.[1]
Early life
Gints Zilbalodis is the child of a painter mother and a sculptor father. He gained interest in filmmaking as a medium for expressing his thoughts; he stated that he struggles to express his emotions externally. He chose not to attend university as Latvia had no animation schools, instead teaching himself animation, sound design, and musical composition.[2]
Career
After directing a string of animated short films, Zilbalodis' debut feature, Away, premiered in 2019. Written, directed, and scored by Zilbalodis himself, Away was awarded the Contrechamps prize at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and was nominated for an Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Music in a Feature Production.[3][4]
Zilbalodis' second feature film, Flow, was selected to screen in the Un Certain Regard portion of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.[5] Unlike his past works, Flow marked the first time Zilbalodis collaborated with other staff, with animation co-produced by Sacrebleu Productions of France and Take Five of Belgium.[6] It went on to win numerous awards worldwide, including Best Animated Feature at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards,[7] while receiving nominations for two British Academy Film Awards and two Academy Awards, including Best International Feature Film and Best Animated Feature.[1] Due to the success of Flow in Latvia, Zilbalodis was honored as "Riga Citizen of the Year" in 2024.[2]
Filmography
Short films
- Rush (2010)
- Aqua (2012)
- Prioritātes (2014)
- Followers (2015)
- Inaudible (2015)
- Oasis (2017)
Feature films
Awards and nominations
Reference
- ^ a b c Bentz, Adam (23 January 2025). "Oscars 2025 Nominations Revealed: Full List Of All 23 Categories". ScreenRant. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ a b Aguilar, Carlos (12 February 2025). "Gints Zilbalodis Discusses 'Flow' and the Movie's Oscar Nominations". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ "Dream Well Studio". Dream Well Studio. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Keslassy, Elsa (7 June 2023). "Charades Boards Animated Feature 'Flow' from 'Away' Director Ahead of Annecy's WIP Showcase (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Flow". Cannes Film Festival. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (3 May 2024). "Gints Zilbalodis's sophomore feature, Flow, set to world-premiere in Cannes' Un Certain Regard". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ Fleming, Ryan (5 January 2025). "Flow Director Gints Zilbalodis Shouts Out "Small, Young But Passionate Team" for First Golden Globe Win for Latvia: "This Is Huge for Us"". Deadline. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ Bennett, Anita (15 June 2019). "'I Lost My Body' Wins Best Feature at Annecy Int'l Animated Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Charades Goes with Gints Zilbalodis's Existential Feature 'Flow'". Animation Magazine. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ a b "And the 2019 winners are..." Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "47th Annie Awards". Annie Awards. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Flow". Annecy International Animated Film Festival. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Roxborough, Scott (7 December 2024). "'Emilia Pérez' Wins Big at European Film Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (20 December 2024). "'The Wild Robot' Leads Annie Awards Nominations With 10 Nods". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (8 February 2025). "Annie Awards: 'The Wild Robot' Wins Best Feature & 7 Others; 'Arcane' Goes 7-For-7; 'Flow' Wins Indie Film Prize: Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (15 January 2025). "BAFTA Nominations: 'Conclave' & 'Emilia Pérez' Lead The Field As Open Awards Race Takes Shape". Deadline. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ Roxborough, Scott (29 January 2025). "The Count of Monte Cristo Tops Emilia Pérez in France's César Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ Jamie, Lang (6 January 2025). "'Flow's' Shock Golden Globe Win Is a Long Overdue Triumph for Indie Animation". Variety. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ "Todos los nominados a los premios Goya 2025" [All of the nominees of the 2025 Goya Awards]. El País (in Spanish). 18 December 2024. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (4 December 2024). "Anora and I Saw the TV Glow Lead Spirit Award Noms with Six Each — See the Full List". IndieWire. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ Lang, Brent; Moreau, Jordan (4 December 2024). "Spirit Awards 2025 Nominations: Anora and I Saw the TV Glow Lead Film Categories, Shōgun Rules TV". Variety. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ "2025 PGA Awards – Winners". Producers Guild of America. 8 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
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