Gints Zilbalodis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gints Zilbalodis
Zilbalodis in 2025
Born	(1994-04-13) 13 April 1994 (age 31) Riga, Latvia
Occupation	Animator, film director, composer
Notable work	Away (2019) Flow (2024)
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Gints Zilbalodis (born April 13, 1994) is a talented filmmaker, animator, and composer from Latvia. He is well-known for creating animated adventure films that tell stories without words. His most famous movies are Away (released in 2019) and Flow (released in 2024). Flow was a huge success, winning many important awards, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Gints Zilbalodis and his co-producer Matīss Kaža were the first Latvians to win an Academy Award!

Early Life and Learning

Gints Zilbalodis grew up in an artistic family. His mother is a painter, and his father is a sculptor. Gints became interested in filmmaking as a way to share his thoughts and feelings, especially since he found it hard to express them out loud.

Latvia did not have animation schools when he was younger, so Gints decided to teach himself. He learned everything on his own: how to animate, how to create sounds for movies, and how to compose music.

His Amazing Career

Before making feature films, Gints Zilbalodis directed seven short films. His first full-length movie, Away, came out in 2019. Gints wrote, directed, and even created all the music for Away himself! This film won the Contrechamps prize at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. It was also nominated for an Annie Award for its music.

His second feature film, Flow, was shown at the famous 2024 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section. Unlike his earlier works, Gints worked with other people on Flow. Animation studios from France and Belgium helped him bring the movie to life.

Flow became a worldwide hit, winning many awards. It won Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards and the same award at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards. It was also nominated for two British Academy Film Awards. Because of Flow's success, Gints Zilbalodis was honored as "Rigan of the Year" in 2024 in his hometown.

Filmography

Short Films

• Rush (2010)
• Aqua (2012)
• Clarity (2012)
• Priorities (2014)
• Followers (2014)
• Inaudible (2015)
• Oasis (2017)

Feature Films

• Away (2019)
• Flow (2024)
• Limbo (To Be Announced)

Awards and Recognitions

Gints Zilbalodis has received many awards for his films.

For Away

• In 2019, Away won the Contrechamps Award for Best Feature Film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
• It also won Best Animated Feature Film at Lielais Kristaps and Best Animated Feature at the Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival.
• In 2020, Away was nominated for an Outstanding Music in a Feature Production.

For Flow

Zilbalodis's Academy Award statuette was put on display at the Latvian National Museum of Art.

Flow has won many major awards:

• In 2024, it won the Best Animated Feature Film at the 37th European Film Awards.
• In 2025, Flow won the Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards.
• It also won Best Animated Feature Film at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.
• Flow received an Annie Award for Outstanding Writing in a Feature Production.
• It also won the César Award for Best Animated Film.
• The film was nominated for two British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA Awards) for Best Animated Film and Best Children's & Family Film.

See also

In Spanish: Gints Zilbalodis para niños

• Independent animation
• Minimalist film