The film FLOW, directed by Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis, was declared the winner of the 2025 LUX Audience Award at a ceremony today in the European Parliament hemicycle in Brussels.
Flow a Latvian, French, Belgian co-production, tells the story of Cat, a solitary animal whose home is devastated by a great flood. In his efforts to adapt to a new world, Cat finds refuge on a boat populated by other animals. The film deals with issues that are central in the European Parliament’s work: climate change, migration, displacement, and resilience.
“The LUX Audience Award is more than just a prize. It is a testament to the European Parliament’s commitment to democracy, freedom of expression and the role of cinema in reflecting and shaping our societies. It brings European stories closer to people and brings people closer to the work of the European Parliament. This year’s five nominated films represent some of the most urgent and compelling issues of our time, issues that are at the core of the European Parliament’s agenda”, said European Parliament Vice-President Sabine Verheyen (EPP, DE) in a video message shown during the award ceremony in the European Parliament hemicycle in Brussels.
“We have had five compelling narratives and five very different LUX Audience Award nominees: they are an inspiration to filmmakers and the public alike, not only for celebrating the extraordinary variety of European cinema but also for demonstrating its ability to entertain and elevate at the same time. The cinematic art in Europe is a perfect example of how culture can make a significant contribution to society and advocate for compassion, empathy and change in an otherwise divided world”, said Mike Downey, honorary president of the LUX Selection Committee and chair of the European Film Academy, following the announcement of the winner.
The four other films shortlisted for the award were: Animal by Greek director Sofia Exarchou, Dahomey by French director Mati Diop, Intercepted by Ukranian director Oksana Karpovych, and Julie Keeps Quiet by Belgian director Leonardo van Dijl.
The winning film was chosen by combining a public vote and a vote by MEPs, each weighted at 50%.
LUX Audience Award
Through the LUX Audience Award, a unique pan-European audience film prize, Parliament has been supporting the distribution of European films since 2007, by providing subtitles in 24 EU languages for the films in final contention. The LUX Audience Award has garnered a reputation by selecting European co-productions that engage with topical political and social issues and encourage debate about European values. The European Parliament teams up with the European Film Academy, the European Commission and the Europa Cinemas network to reach a wider audience and to continue to strengthen the links between people and politics.