'Flow' team invited to become members of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

LOS ANGELES - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 534 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to motion pictures, including the authors of the Oscar-winning animated feature "Flow".

The invitations have been extended to the film's director Gints Zilbalodis, producers Matiss Kaza and Gregory Zalcman, as well as composer Rihards Zalupe.

"We are thrilled to invite this esteemed class of artists, technologists, and professionals to join the Academy," said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang. "Through their commitment to filmmaking and to the greater movie industry, these exceptionally talented individuals have made indelible contributions to our global filmmaking community."

Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis' award-winning animated feature "Flow" is the first Latvian film ever to win such film industry awards as Oscar, Golden Globe and Cesar, among others.

"Flow" is a 3D animated feature telling the story of an individualistic cat who during a global flood is forced to leave his home and seek refuge on a small boat along with several other animals. To survive in the new world which is no longer populated by humans, the Cat needs to change his habits and learn to cooperate with a dog, a capibara, a lemur and a bird.