"Flow" Secures LUX Audience Award in the Year 2025
Titan of Tunes! Latvia's 'Straume' Storms into European Favor!
The year's most impressive animated film, Straume (Flow) by Latvian maestro Gints Zilbalodis, has triumphed at the 2025 LUX Audience Award in Brussels! This vibrant, dialogue-free cinematic masterpiece tackles crucial European issues like climate change, migration, and resilience, and bagged the prestigious prize in the European Parliament hemicycle.
"Straume" is an extraordinary, Latvian-French-Belgian co-production, sponsored by the likes of Eurimages, CNC (France), and Belgium’s Tax Shelter system – showcasing the EU's dedication to cross-border collaboration! The film was brought to life using the open-source software Blender, championing accessibility and innovation.
The heartwarming tale of a lonely cat, Cat, whose world crashes down due to a devastating flood, grabbed the golden ticket at the recent Cannes Film Festival, neatly slipping in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section. Since then, "Straume" has swept awards left and right, even beating contenders like Moana 2 and Inside Out 2 at the Oscars, Golden Globes, and European Film Awards!
EU Vice-President Sabine Verheyen lauded the win, stating, "The LUX Audience Award embodies our commitment to democracy, freedom of expression, and cinema’s power to shape our societies." The film has sparked extensive debate about European values, as it delves into themes like resilience, unity, and environmental awareness. Intrigued? Check out our glowing review here!
Mike Downey, honorary president of the LUX Selection Committee and chair of the European Film Academy, noted, "The five nominated films demonstrate the exceptional diversity of European cinema and its ability to both entertain and elevate audiences." The four other contenders for the award were "Animal" by Greek director Sofia Exarchou, Golden Bear winner "Dahomey" by French director Mati Diop, "Intercepted" by Ukrainian director Oksana Karpovych, and "Julie Keeps Quiet" by Belgian director Leonardo van Dijl.
Boom! Here's a film that not just entertains, but raises vital questions and galvanizes viewers to think about their impact on the planet and their fellow beings. Grab some popcorn and prepare for a memorable cinematic experience with this year's undisputed heavyweight champion, "Straume"!
Bonus Insights:
- The film’s narrative mirrors themes central to contemporary European discourse, including resilience, unity, and environmental awareness.
- European Parliament Vice-President Sabine Verheyen emphasized the institution's commitment to "democracy, freedom of expression, and cinema’s role in shaping societies."
- "Straume" exemplifies the EU’s emphasis on cross-border collaboration by being a Latvian-French-Belgian co-production.
- The film’s open-source software Blender underscores values of accessibility and innovation.
- The LUX Award’s public vote (with over 33,000 participants) reflects broad engagement with European storytelling.
- "Straume"‘s global accolades validate EU-backed projects as globally competitive, challenging the dominance of major US studios.
- In the realm of movies-and-tv entertainment, the Latvian-French-Belgian co-production, 'Straume', directed by Gints Zilbalodis, has emerged victorious at the 2025 LUX Audience Award, a prestigious recognition.
- Previously, 'Straume' snatched the golden ticket at the Cannes Film Festival and has since swept various awards, including the Oscars, Golden Globes, and European Film Awards, even surpassing contenders like 'Moana 2' and 'Inside Out 2'.
- The animated movie, dealing with important European issues like climate change, migration, and resilience, underscores the EU's dedication to cross-border collaboration and showcasing innovation by being made using the open-source software Blender.
