Latest news with #GintsZilbalodis
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Near-perfect "irresistible" Oscar winner Flow confirms UK streaming release date
Acclaimed movie Flow will finally be streaming in the UK after winning an Oscar for Best Animated Feature earlier this year. A co-production of Latvia, Belgium and France, the film from director and co-writer Gints Zilbalodis follows a dark grey cat trying to survive with other animals in a post-apocalyptic world. Cat lovers won't have to wait very long to stream the 2024 film, as it will start streaming on MUBI from 20 June. The arthouse streaming platform is also available as an add-on Prime Video channel. This means you'll get to stream its catalogue for free for a whole week when you subscribe to Prime 30-day free trial. Whatever your streaming subscription, be sure to give Flow a chance as the film is currently Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 97% out of 181 reviews. Related: Premiered at Cannes last year, Zilbalodis' movie was praised for its original approach to animated storytelling compared to most animated movies, particularly those from Disney's ranks. "It's a film full of wonders but not a single word of dialogue in the epic tale of one cat's adventures after a flood of biblical proportions," The Guardian review noted. "As visions of apocalypse go, it's rather lovely." The film touches upon the theme of climate change, without ever being "cloying or condescending", the Little White Lies review out of the festival read. Related: Elsewhere in the animated medium, a John Wick spinoff is in the works with Keanu Reeves announced to reprise the role of the titular assassin. The animated prequel will focus on the Impossible Task, which takes place before the events of the first John Wick movie and sees the hitman having to get rid of his enemies in one night to fulfil his obligation to the High Table. Flow will start streaming on MUBI from 20 June. . Digital Spy's first print magazine is here! Buy in newsagents or , now priced at just £3.99.£49.99 at at at Amazon at Audible£18.99 at at at EE£328.00 at at at at at at at at at at Amazon at EE at at at at at Game at Pandora at EE at at at at at Sky Mobile£29.98 at at at at at at Three at Pandora£1200.00 at Game at at at at at at AO at at at at £199.99 at Fitbit£49.99 at at at at at at at at at at at John Lewis at at at at at at at at at at £44.99 at at at at Amazon at at John Lewis£184.00 at John Lewis & Partners at at at at at Amazon at Fitbit£119.99 at at Amazon£184.00 at John Lewis & Partners at Three at at at at at at at at at Amazon at Three at at at at at at at Apple£699.00 at at at at at at at EE at Audible at at at at at John Lewis at at at at John Lewis at at at Amazon at Apple at at at at at at at at EE$365.00 at Microsoft£229.00 at John Lewis at at at Three£79.00 at Samsung at at Apple at at at John Lewis at at Amazon at at at Samsung at crunchyroll£1199.00 at AO at at at Microsoft at at at at John Lewis & Partners at at Microsoft£92.98 at at Amazon£369.00 at John Lewis at at at at at now at at at John Lewis & Partners at at at at at Microsoft at at at John Lewis at at at at £6.65 at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at You Might Also Like PS5 consoles for sale – PlayStation 5 stock and restocks: Where to buy PS5 today? IS MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 7 THE BEST IN THE SERIES? OUR REVIEW AEW game is a modern mix of No Mercy and SmackDown
L'Orient-Le Jour
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- L'Orient-Le Jour
European Film Festival starts today in Beirut: Discover our selection
From April 30 to May 11, the 29th edition of the European Film Festival will light up the screens of Metropolis Cinema in Mar Mikhael with more than 35 films, special guests, concerts, tributes and a steadfast passion for the seventh art. The festival is organized by the European Union delegation in Lebanon, in partnership with the Metropolis Cinema Association and EU member state embassies. Opening with a Cannes favorite The festival will open with Flow by Gints Zilbalodis, a Latvian sensation unveiled at Cannes in 2024. The silent animated feature — which won the 2025 Oscar for Best Animated Feature and more than 50 international awards — follows a cat navigating a dreamlike, submerged world. The film promises to set the tone for a festival focused on innovation and emotion. The opening night is by invitation only, ahead of the film's national release on May 8. This year's lineup includes 21 feature films from across Europe, offering Lebanese audiences a bold and varied look at contemporary European cinema. Among them are several festival prizewinners, including two animated films for younger viewers. Special "movie-snack" screenings will be held for children from underserved communities. Alongside the European selections, 12 short films by emerging Lebanese filmmakers will compete for awards. Two winners will be selected to attend a European film festival, in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut and the French Institute of Lebanon. Cinema as a living experience Among the festival's standout events is Voyage to the Land of Fairies, a hybrid of concert and screening. The duo Catherine Vincent will reinterpret four enchanting short films by Georges Méliès and Lotte Reiniger in a musical, humorous, and poetic cine-concert, blending shadow theater and melodic storytelling. The festival also includes two special screenings with a focus on memory. Spanish classic Jamón Jamón by Bigas Luna will be shown in its restored version, with actor Jordi Mollà in attendance. The closing night on May 11 will feature the digitized version of Youssef Maalouf's Abou Salim, the Messenger of Love, a tribute to the beloved TV icon, who will attend the screening. A poster that speaks Beirut This year's festival poster, designed by Natasha Simonian, captures Beirut's raw energy: stray cats, tangled wires, and a city suspended between daily poetry and chaos. The design was chosen through an online competition, reflecting the festival's spirit of community and openness. Screenings will also reach audiences beyond Beirut, with events planned in Saida, Tripoli and Jounieh. Four must-see feature films The Story of Souleymane – Boris Lojkine (France) Monday, May 5 at 6 p.m. & Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m. In the streets of Paris, Souleymane rehearses his story in preparation for an asylum interview. This poignant portrait of a suspended migrant, awarded at Cannes, stands out for its intensity and emotional depth. The Poet's Fiancée – Yolande Moreau (Belgium) Wednesday, May 7 at 9 p.m. In her inherited family home, Mireille hosts three eccentric tenants who disturb her solitude and stir romantic memories. A delicately offbeat comedy, true to Moreau's style. The End – Joshua Oppenheimer (Denmark) Friday, May 9 at 6 p.m. In a post-apocalyptic world, a family lives sealed in a bunker. The arrival of a stranger disrupts their balance. With Tilda Swinton, this philosophical chamber piece is haunting and provocative. Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush – Andreas Dresen (Germany) Thursday, May 1 at 8:30 p.m. & Saturday, May 10 at 4 p.m. A Turkish-German mother fights to free her son from Guantanamo. A moving and satirical courtroom drama, awarded the Silver Bear in Berlin. The Past Is Calling – Perla Geagea In a deserted Beirut home, an exiled voice returns to haunt the walls in a poetic audiovisual elegy. A silent meditation on what's left when everything is lost — haunting and understated. Bitter Greens, Tangled Roots – Abdallah Dannaoui A phone call between an exiled brother and sister rekindles memories of a vanished Lebanon. Sensitive Strings – Amal Ghamlooch A musician takes the stage one final time in a heartfelt, unadorned farewell. Awards will be announced during the closing ceremony on Sunday, May 11 at 8:30 p.m., followed by Abou Salim, the Messenger of Love. For Young Audiences: A Galactic Adventure Diplodocus – Wojtek Wawszczyk (Poland) Saturday, May 10 at 12 p.m. A small dinosaur capable of interplanetary travel sets out to find his parents. Packed with quirky characters and kinetic animation, this interstellar journey is perfect for children aged 8 and up. Festival Information Location: Metropolis Cinema, Mar Mikhael Dates: April 30 – May 11, 2025 Tickets: 400,000 Lebanese liras, available at or at the cinema Opening night: By invitation only
Euronews
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
'Flow' wins LUX Audience Award 2025
ADVERTISEMENT It's the little kitty that could... The Oscar winning animated film Straume ( Flow ) , directed by Gints Zilbalodis, has won this year's LUX Audience Award , the pan-European audience film prize which champions EU co-productions that engage with topical issues and encourage debate about European values. The Latvian, French, Belgian co-production tells the story of Cat, a solitary animal whose home is devastated by a great flood. In his efforts to adapt to a new world, Cat finds refuge on a boat populated by other animals. This wonderful animated fantasy adventure, created using the free and open-source software Blender, is notable for its lack of dialogue and striking imagery. Flow debuted at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section to great critical acclaim, and already won various awards including Best Animated Film at the European Film Awards , Golden Globes and the Oscars , beating competition from big US productions including Moana 2 and Inside Out 2 . It was declared the winner at a ceremony the European Parliament hemicycle in Brussels. And the winner is... European Union 2025 - Source : EP 'The LUX Audience Award is more than just a prize. It is a testament to the European Parliament's commitment to democracy, freedom of expression and the role of cinema in reflecting and shaping our societies,' said European Parliament Vice-President Sabine Verheyen during the award ceremony. 'It brings European stories closer to people and brings people closer to the work of the European Parliament,' she added. Flow wins LUX Audience Award European Union 2025 - Source : EP Indeed, Flow deals with issues like climate change, migration, displacement, and resilience. In our Best Movies of 2024 countdown, we said: "The detailed micro-characteristics of each species, like the overly-keen labrador, the grumpy capybara and the inscrutable secretarybird, create endearing dynamics that float themes of friendship and the importance of banding together despite differences. While the topic of climate change also looms large, Flow is most rewarding when viewed as a simple story told beautifully - at points rather stressful, but ultimately life-affirming catnip for the soul." Check out our review here . Flow wins LUX Audience Award 2025 European Union 2025 - Source : EP 'We have had five compelling narratives and five very different LUX Audience Award nominees: they are an inspiration to filmmakers and the public alike, not only for celebrating the extraordinary variety of European cinema but also for demonstrating its ability to entertain and elevate at the same time,' said Mike Downey, honorary president of the LUX Selection Committee and chair of the European Film Academy , following the announcement of the winner. 'The cinematic art in Europe is a perfect example of how culture can make a significant contribution to society and advocate for compassion, empathy and change in an otherwise divided world', added Downey. Team Flow European Union 2025 - Source : EP The four other films shortlisted for the award were Animal by Greek director Sofia Exarchou; Golden Bear winner Dahomey by French director Mati Diop; Intercepted by Ukranian director Oksana Karpovych; and Julie Keeps Quiet by Belgian director Leonardo van Dijl.
South China Morning Post
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, April 5-7, from film to ballet
If you are in Hong Kong this long weekend, then there are a few things you might want to check out, including an Oscar-winning animated film, a full-length ballet on Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and a craft beer event. 1. Flow When director Gints Zilbalodis accepted his Oscar win for best animated feature last month for his ethereal animated film Flow, he thanked his parents and his 'cats and dogs' – fitting, given that the charming cartoon follows a feline and other animals as they survive a huge flood. Advertisement Then, he added a rallying cry for the industry: 'I'm really moved by the warm reception our film has had … and I hope that it will open doors to independent animation filmmakers around the world.' Flow's success in beating huge American studio animations like Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot to the Academy Award, as well as a Golden Globe win back in January, will surely be encouraging to other animators outside Hollywood. Made in Latvia for US$3.7 million (HK$28.8 million), Flow has grossed over 10 times that in ticket sales to date. Perhaps it helps that the dialogue-free fable transcends language barriers, but it is almost impossible to imagine Pixar or DreamWorks creating something this mystical. Flow is in cinemas now. 2. Yardleys Taproom's third anniversary
South China Morning Post
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
How independent animated films like Oscar winner Flow are taking on Pixar and DreamWorks
When director Gints Zilbalodis accepted his Oscar last month for his ethereal new animated film Flow, he thanked his parents and his 'cats and dogs' – fitting, given that the charming cartoon follows a feline and other animals as they survive a huge flood. Advertisement Then he added a rallying cry for the industry: 'I'm really moved by the warm reception our film has had … and I hope that it will open doors to independent animation filmmakers around the world.' Flow's success in beating huge American studio animations like Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot to the Academy Award, and the Golden Globe back in January, will surely be encouraging to other animators outside Hollywood. Made in Latvia for US$3.7 million (HK$28.8 million), Flow has grossed over 10 times that in ticket sales to date. Perhaps it helps that the dialogue-free fable transcends language barriers, but it is almost impossible to imagine Pixar or DreamWorks creating something this mystical. Without realising it, Zilbalodis may already have his wish, for 2025 seems to be the year of independent animation. Advertisement Flow's fellow Oscar nominee Memoir of a Snail is a melancholic masterpiece, the Australian-made tale of Grace (voiced by Sarah Snook) and Gilbert (Kodi Smit-McPhee), twins living in 1970s Melbourne who are separated after being orphaned.
