Foreign Animations, Flow and In The Shadow Of The Cypress Win Big With First Oscars
Foreign Animated Films Flow and In The Shadow Of the Cypress won their first Oscars at the ninety-seventh annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles on March 2.
The Latvian film took home the first award for the Best Animated Feature. Flow beat out fellow animated films Inside Out 2, The Wild Robot, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Memoir of a Snail to receive the prestigious award. Creators Gints Zilbalodis, Matiss Kaza, Ron Dynes, and Gregory Zalcman took center stage after hearing their film announced by presenters Andrew Garfield and Goldie Hawn.
The group immediately embraced one another, heading into their acceptance speech. Zilbalodis started the speech by thanking the Academy, his family, and his pets.
The tears are flowing. FLOW secures the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/3RPVaLBz84
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025
“I am moved by Flow’s reception, and I hope that will open the doors for independent animation filmmakers around the world,” he stated. “This is the first time I’ve come from Latvia to be nominated, so it really means a lot to us. We’re very inspired and hope we will be back soon.”
“We’re all in the same boat and just trying to find places to work,” the 30-year-old concluded.
Following Flow, In The Shadow Of the Cypress was named the next winner of the Best Animated Short Film award. The Iranian production won over Magic Candies, Wander to Wonder, Yuck!, and Beautiful Men. Producers Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi immediately embraced upon hearing their picture called. Molayemi explained that winning the award felt surreal.
Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi, winners of the Best Animated Short Film for IN THE SHADOW OF THE CYPRESS at the 97th #Oscars pic.twitter.com/vIgjgBIeMM
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025
“Believe it or not, 3 hours ago, our plane landed in LA,” the filmmakers stated. “We had an issue with our Visa up until yesterday, so we were so disappointed, but we are standing here with this statue in our hands.”
“Just the fact that we managed to make this film under the extraordinary circumstances of our country is a miracle, and yes, if we persevere and remain faithful, miracles happen,” Molayemi continued. “We will dedicate our film and this prestigious award to those still fighting in their inner and outer battles. Heroically, no one knows that, especially our fellow Iranians who are suffering.”
“We are so grateful to the academy and all those who supported us and this long journey, especially our families. Thank you very much,” the 43-year-old filmmaker concluded.
Click here to watch the two brave foreign filmmakers’ full acceptance speech.
