Estonia Responds To Conan O’Brien’s Oscar Joke After Latvia’s ‘Flow’ Win: “The Ball Really Is In Our Court Now”

It was a big night for Baltic countries at the 2025 Oscars. Latvia, population 1.9 million, walked away with the Best Animated Feature award for indie Flow over boxoffice hits from Hollywood’s biggest animation studios.
“This is the first time a film from Latvia has ever been nominated so it truly means a lot for us,” the film’s director Gints Zilbalodis said in his acceptance speech.
The achievement did not go unnoticed by Oscar host Conan O’Brien, who later in the telecast acknowledged Latvia for winning its first Oscar before shifting the spotlight to another Baltic country. “Ball’s in your court, Estonia!” he said of Latvia’s neighbor, population 1.3M.
Estonia’s top politicians got in on the joke and accepted the challenge.
The country’s Prime Minister Kristen Michal congratulated Zilbalodis “and all dear Latvian friends” with the Oscar win on X, adding, “We’ve got you, @ConanOBrien.
“This is the first time a film from Latvia has ever been nominated so it truly means a lot for us,” the film’s director Gints Zilbalodis said in his acceptance speech.
The achievement did not go unnoticed by Oscar host Conan O’Brien, who later in the telecast acknowledged Latvia for winning its first Oscar before shifting the spotlight to another Baltic country. “Ball’s in your court, Estonia!” he said of Latvia’s neighbor, population 1.3M.
Estonia’s top politicians got in on the joke and accepted the challenge.
The country’s Prime Minister Kristen Michal congratulated Zilbalodis “and all dear Latvian friends” with the Oscar win on X, adding, “We’ve got you, @ConanOBrien.
- 3/3/2025
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Similar News
Jimmy Fallon broke Tonight Show taboo with banned guest Leno and Conan rejected
- 4/24/2025
- by Matt Moore
- Last Night On

Who Johnny Carson accused of spreading rumors to end his Tonight Show run
- 4/23/2025
- by Matt Moore
- Last Night On

Netflix May 2025 Originals, Movies, and Series Announced
- 4/23/2025
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills

Annecy Animation Festival Lineup Includes Sylvain Chomet’s ‘A Magnificent Life’ and Andy Serkis’ ‘Animal Farm’
- 4/23/2025
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire

Annecy Unveils 2025 Lineup (Full List)
- 4/23/2025
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News

Annecy 2025 Slate Includes Michel Gondry Masterclass, Animated ‘Stranger Things,’ ‘Fixed’ and ‘Zootopia 2’
- 4/23/2025
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap

The Current Debate | Oscars 2025, an Indie Triumph?
- 4/16/2025
- MUBI

Walter Salles responds to Brazilian Oscar reaction: “The most beautiful gift”
- 4/6/2025
- ScreenDaily

‘Snow White’ retains UK-Ireland box office lead; ‘A Working Man’ takes third spot
- 3/31/2025
- ScreenDaily

IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.