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Gints Zilbalodis

@gintszilbalodis • 163,306 subscribers

Director of Flow(2024) and Away(2019)

Shorts

Ok, this is the last one

Ok, this is the last one

6,335,595 views

We used real animal voices in Flow. In most cases this wasn't a problem, except for the capybara. Capybaras don't speak that much, so it had to be tickled to make it say something, but the voice was very high-pitched and didn’t fit our chill, hippy like character. We made a creative decision to offer the role to a baby camel instead.

We used real animal voices in Flow. In most cases this wasn't a problem, except for the capybara. Capybaras don't speak that much, so it had to be tickled to make it say something, but the voice was very high-pitched and didn’t fit our chill, hippy like character. We made a creative decision to offer the role to a baby camel instead.

1,833,590 views

Instead of going to filmschool, I made my first feature film Away which I started at 20 and finished at 24. I think the best way to learn is by making films so I did everything on my own. It went on to win the Contrechamp award in Annecy which gave me the opportunity to make Flow

Instead of going to filmschool, I made my first feature film Away which I started at 20 and finished at 24. I think the best way to learn is by making films so I did everything on my own. It went on to win the Contrechamp award in Annecy which gave me the opportunity to make Flow

1,346,407 views

Life imitates art

Life imitates art

329,338 views

Our sound designer Gurwal, just sent me a clip of the real capybara voice. I think that we made the right call to use a baby camel voice instead.

Our sound designer Gurwal, just sent me a clip of the real capybara voice. I think that we made the right call to use a baby camel voice instead.

330,130 views

People in line waiting to see the Flow Golden Globe at the Latvian National Museum of Art which is guarded by 2 cat statues.

People in line waiting to see the Flow Golden Globe at the Latvian National Museum of Art which is guarded by 2 cat statues.

274,070 views

Flow has now made more than 20 million $ at the global box office! Not bad for a film that cost 3.5 million eur. And we're still yet to open in many big countries. This shows that there is an appetite for more independant animation and we'll be seeing much bigger variety of films being made.

Flow has now made more than 20 million $ at the global box office! Not bad for a film that cost 3.5 million eur. And we're still yet to open in many big countries. This shows that there is an appetite for more independant animation and we'll be seeing much bigger variety of films being made.

235,057 views

A very, very nice feeling. Flow joins the Criterion Collection

A very, very nice feeling. Flow joins the Criterion Collection

130,450 views

Flow is as much about the cat's fear of water as it's fear of others. Water is used as a visual metaphor to convey how the cat feels towards the rest of the characters.

Flow is as much about the cat's fear of water as it's fear of others. Water is used as a visual metaphor to convey how the cat feels towards the rest of the characters.

170,413 views

Because there's no dialogue in Flow, it was important to me that the goals and motivations of the characters are simple and clear. The cat wants to reach and climb up the giant cliff towers to escape from the flood. The design of the towers had to be iconic and recognisable from far away. This was partially inspired by environment design in some video games which feature big landmarks which help you find the right direction to go towards.

Because there's no dialogue in Flow, it was important to me that the goals and motivations of the characters are simple and clear. The cat wants to reach and climb up the giant cliff towers to escape from the flood. The design of the towers had to be iconic and recognisable from far away. This was partially inspired by environment design in some video games which feature big landmarks which help you find the right direction to go towards.

171,679 views

Sometimes Flow is refered to as a silent film, which isn't true. Dialogue free would be a better description. Without dialogue we can use the other tools of cinema in a much more expressive way. The music, the sound, the camera, lighting and animation don't have to compete with the dialogue which can tend to attract all the attention.

Sometimes Flow is refered to as a silent film, which isn't true. Dialogue free would be a better description. Without dialogue we can use the other tools of cinema in a much more expressive way. The music, the sound, the camera, lighting and animation don't have to compete with the dialogue which can tend to attract all the attention.

163,338 views

Love Blender! I’m using it for my next film as well.

Love Blender! I’m using it for my next film as well.

98,636 views

I asked our sound designer Gurwal to make this moment feel like as if a sound recorder on the set would actually be swept away by the flood. As if they wouldn’t be able hold on to the microphone and get the right levels making the sound just barely usable. I wanted it to feel rough, raw and dirty. Initially I thought that this would be loud, but Gurwal suggested instead that the sound should almost dissapear, which I think made the scene way more impactful. I learned a lot by working with Gurwal. Like in this case that less can be more.

I asked our sound designer Gurwal to make this moment feel like as if a sound recorder on the set would actually be swept away by the flood. As if they wouldn’t be able hold on to the microphone and get the right levels making the sound just barely usable. I wanted it to feel rough, raw and dirty. Initially I thought that this would be loud, but Gurwal suggested instead that the sound should almost dissapear, which I think made the scene way more impactful. I learned a lot by working with Gurwal. Like in this case that less can be more.

82,916 views

Development of one of the shots in Flow. Every shot goes through many iterations. In most cases the look is found directly in the 3d scene instead of using concept art. Everything is made in Blender and rendered using EEVEE.

Development of one of the shots in Flow. Every shot goes through many iterations. In most cases the look is found directly in the 3d scene instead of using concept art. Everything is made in Blender and rendered using EEVEE.

80,509 views

Back in October I was in Busan, Korea where I thought that I would be introducing another regular screening, but once I got on the stage through a backdoor, I realised that there were thousands of people in the audience. 4.5 thousand in fact. It’s better that I didn’t know this before, because that would’ve been a lot more anxiety inducing. It's hard to get used to this as I'm much more used to being alone in a room, sitting behind a computer screen, but it’s been a fun ride. Flow will be released in Korea on March 19.

Back in October I was in Busan, Korea where I thought that I would be introducing another regular screening, but once I got on the stage through a backdoor, I realised that there were thousands of people in the audience. 4.5 thousand in fact. It’s better that I didn’t know this before, because that would’ve been a lot more anxiety inducing. It's hard to get used to this as I'm much more used to being alone in a room, sitting behind a computer screen, but it’s been a fun ride. Flow will be released in Korea on March 19.

44,361 views

Flow behind the scenes featurette on Indiewire.

Flow behind the scenes featurette on Indiewire.

26,740 views

Flow has been nominated for the LUX award! It's a huge honor for us because this is the first time ever that a Latvian film has been nominated and also it's very rare that they select animated films. This also means that Flow will be shown in cinemas in all of the EU countries.

Flow has been nominated for the LUX award! It's a huge honor for us because this is the first time ever that a Latvian film has been nominated and also it's very rare that they select animated films. This also means that Flow will be shown in cinemas in all of the EU countries.

24,253 views

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Flow target audience. Cinema is the universal language!
0:24
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Flow target audience. Cinema is the universal language!

Gints Zilbalodis

3,396,360 views • 1 year ago

Flow mural in Warsaw! 🐈‍⬛
0:34
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Flow mural in Warsaw! 🐈‍⬛

Gints Zilbalodis

1,736,045 views • 1 year ago

Kino watching Flow.
2:55
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Kino watching Flow.

Gints Zilbalodis

433,906 views • 7 months ago

Flow director and dog react to Oscar nominations.
1:22
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Flow director and dog react to Oscar nominations.

Gints Zilbalodis

1,062,803 views • 1 year ago

Flow - an animated feature film directed by Gints Zilbalodis which premiered in Cannes Un Certain Regard 2024.
1:17
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Flow - an animated feature film directed by Gints Zilbalodis which premiered in Cannes Un Certain Regard 2024.

Gints Zilbalodis

1,371,454 views • 2 years ago

Instead of using storyboards, I design the scenes directly in 3d. This is necessery because of the long shots where the camera is moving a lot. I explore a rough version of the set with a virtual camera, often finding unxpected discoveries, almost like on a live-action film set.
1:17
gintszilbalodis's profile picture

Instead of using storyboards, I design the scenes directly in 3d. This is necessery because of the long shots where the camera is moving a lot. I explore a rough version of the set with a virtual camera, often finding unxpected discoveries, almost like on a live-action film set.

Gints Zilbalodis

798,045 views • 1 year ago

Flow was made entirely in Blender and rendered using EEVEE.
0:35
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Flow was made entirely in Blender and rendered using EEVEE.

Gints Zilbalodis

618,412 views • 1 year ago

Working with Kino
1:23
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Working with Kino

Gints Zilbalodis

155,320 views • 7 months ago

In Flow we don't know what happened to the humans or where the flood is coming from because the story is told from the cat's point of view and the cat doesn't know these things. We left some clues for you to figure this out yourself.
0:23
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In Flow we don't know what happened to the humans or where the flood is coming from because the story is told from the cat's point of view and the cat doesn't know these things. We left some clues for you to figure this out yourself.

Gints Zilbalodis

305,707 views • 1 year ago

It was important to that in Flow there are moments where the pacing slows down allowing you to take a breath and consider everything that's happened. If a film is fast and loud all the time you get used to that and feel nothing.
0:31
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It was important to that in Flow there are moments where the pacing slows down allowing you to take a breath and consider everything that's happened. If a film is fast and loud all the time you get used to that and feel nothing.

Gints Zilbalodis

291,594 views • 1 year ago

The bird is the only character that the cat looks up to and respects. We chose a secretarybird from South Africa in this role because of their majestic and authoritative presence.
0:23
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The bird is the only character that the cat looks up to and respects. We chose a secretarybird from South Africa in this role because of their majestic and authoritative presence.

Gints Zilbalodis

268,071 views • 1 year ago

Another look at Flow being rendered in Blender and EEVEE. I like to explore the set using a camera and discover ideas. To me this is much easier than using storyboards.
0:36
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Another look at Flow being rendered in Blender and EEVEE. I like to explore the set using a camera and discover ideas. To me this is much easier than using storyboards.

Gints Zilbalodis

211,609 views • 1 year ago

Flow water development bts by our water wiz Mārtiņš Upītis 🇱🇻 🇺🇦 . All of the water effects were done by just 2 people.
1:45
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Flow water development bts by our water wiz Mārtiņš Upītis 🇱🇻 🇺🇦 . All of the water effects were done by just 2 people.

Gints Zilbalodis

161,717 views • 1 year ago

Ocean Waves
0:21
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Ocean Waves

Gints Zilbalodis

52,504 views • 6 months ago

This was the very first shot that was animated by Léo Silly Pélissier, the director of animation of Flow during pre-production. The character rigs and models were later remade from scrach. There're still a few shots left in the film which feature the older rigs.
0:26
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This was the very first shot that was animated by Léo Silly Pélissier, the director of animation of Flow during pre-production. The character rigs and models were later remade from scrach. There're still a few shots left in the film which feature the older rigs.

Gints Zilbalodis

114,967 views • 1 year ago