Zilbalodis' animated feature

RIGA - Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis' animated feature "Flow" has been nominated for the 97th Academy Awards, or Oscars, in two categories, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the United States announced Thursday.

Zilbalodis' film has earned Oscars nominations in the categories best animated feature film and best international film.

"Flow" is the first Latvian film ever to be nominated for an Oscar.

As reported, Zilbalodis' animated feature "Flow" won the Golden Globe Award in the category Best Picture - Animated ceremony in Beverly Hills, US, on January 5. This is the highest international cinematic award ever won by a Latvian filmmaker.

"Flow" has already won at least 50 film awards, including a Golden Globe and the European Film Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film.

"Flow" is also Latvia's entry for this year's Oscars.

"Flow" is a three-country co-production between the Latvia's Dream Well Studio, the French studio Sacrebleu Productions and the Belgian studio Take Five.

"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.

Oscars will be handed out on March 2 in Hollywood.