Following the success of the film ‘Flow’ at the Golden Globes, where it won the Best Motion Picture – Animated category, Latvia has decided to increase national funding for its animation industry. This move aims to foster future success in the sector. ‘Flow’ is the country’s first film to win at the prestigious awards, and it also stands out as a competitor for both Best Animated Feature and Best International Feature at the upcoming Oscars.
The film has already outshone major Hollywood productions like ‘Moana 2’ and ‘Inside Out 2’, showcasing Latvia’s potential in the animation world and demonstrating that despite being a small player in the global film industry, it can produce high-standard animated works. ‘Flow’ is currently a frontrunner to win Best Animated Film at the Oscars, with additional chances in the Best International Feature category, where it will face strong competitors from Germany, Brazil, and France.
As a reaction to the film’s achievements, the Latvian government announced plans to significantly increase funding for the animation sector. This allocation of an additional 1 million euros to support animation competitions was part of a broader strategy by the Ministry of Finance with the backing of the Ministry of Culture to promote the growth of Latvian animation. Funds are being redistributed from the Ministry of Climate and Energy’s budget, along with the Radio and Television Regulator budget, to move this initiative forward.
Lita Kokale, the Head of Public Relations at the Ministry of Culture, highlighted that the goal is to ensure sustainable growth for the animation sector, pointing out that Latvian financial support for the industry lags behind neighboring Baltic countries like Estonia and Lithuania. Estonia supports its film industry with nearly €20 million, and Lithuania provides over €10 million, while Latvia’s budget for film production is only a bit over €8 million.
In addition to the funding boost, the Latvian government has awarded a €300,000 cash prize to the ‘Flow’ team for their Golden Globe victory, equivalent to the rewards given to athletes for international victories, and an additional €150,000 has been allocated for the international marketing of the film by the National Film Centre. Nonetheless, the Ministry of Culture asserts that while this funding is a positive step, Latvia’s animation sector still lacks a competitive edge and calls for further investment to maintain long-term growth and fairly compensate the talented animators for their work.
With ‘Flow’ bringing global attention to Latvia’s animation industry, the country’s decision to ramp up funding may mark the beginning of a more vibrant future for its animated filmmaking. However, whether this investment will lead to additional international recognition is yet to be seen.
