Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis made history on Sunday when his independent film “Flow” won the Golden Globe for best animated feature.

The dialogue-free film with a modest $3.7 million was going up against Hollywood heavyweights from Disney, Pixar and Netflix. Still, it topped them all for one of the biggest U.S. animation prizes during awards season.

In the film, a catastrophic flood submerges everything in its path, including Cat’s home. There are no humans to be found anywhere, although their material legacy remains. Luckily for “Flow’s” feline protagonist, it finds refuge on a boat full of other displaced animals. Together, the group sets sail on the flood waters for a journey into the unknown.

Variety caught up with Zilbalodis during his “Flow” promotional tour to discuss the film’s modest origins, his first time working with a team, his all-inclusive filmmaking process and what it means that a...