Against the Tides: How “Straume” Navigated Piracy to Claim International Acclaim
the animated film “Straume” has ridden a wave of success, earning its 60th award at the prestigious Limiers ceremony. This recognition comes after a fierce battle against rampant piracy, a challenge faced by many filmmakers, especially those achieving international recognition. “The number of such websites and platforms is increasing rapidly,” says Matīss Kaža, producer and co-author of the “Straume” script. “This problem applies to all films, especially those that are in circulation and popular.” He adds that any popular foreign film readily accessible online – whether on streaming platforms, DVD, or Blu-ray – is easily found on pirate websites.
Combating piracy is a continuous process. Kaža describes the collaborative efforts taken to take down illegal links: “When the film ‘Straume’ is licensed for screening abroad, the team works with a sales agency that has a cooperation partner – an anti-piracy agency. Every time we see ‘Straume’ on a website, we send them a link, and further actions are taken, such as sending letters, notifications that it is a violation of the law, so that you cannot watch that movie on that particular link. but the moment there are hundreds of links, it is clear that not every one can be eliminated,” he explains.
Despite the ongoing struggle, “Straume” has made notable waves in the animation world. Earlier, the film won the prestigious “Golden Globe” award for the best animated film, beating out heavyweights like “Inside Out 2”, “Moana 2”, “Memoir of a Snail”, “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” and “The Wild Robot”. “This is a truly special moment for our team,” Kaža shares. “It means so much to be recognized by such a prestigious institution.”
“Straume” is a heartfelt story born from a unique collaboration between Latvian, French, and Belgian studios. the 3D animation follows the journey of a solitary Cat who, during a devastating flood, is forced to abandon his home and seek refuge on a tiny boat with other animals.To survive in this unfamiliar and desolate world, the cat must learn to overcome his individualism and work alongside an eclectic group – a Dog, Capybara, Lemur, and a Bird.
“Straume” is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the creative team, which includes director, producer, screenwriter, and artist Zilbalodis; producers Ron Diāns and Gregory Zalkmans; sound director Gurvals koiks-Gallas; chief animator Leo Silī-Pelisier; music authors Zilbalodis and Rihards Zaļupe; and visual effects artists konstantīns Visņevskis and Mārtiņš Upītis.
What is a Pascal (pa)?
The Pascal (Pa), named after French mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal, is the standard unit of pressure in the metric system. One Pascal is defined as the pressure exerted by a force of one newton (N) acting uniformly over an area of one square meter (m2). In simpler terms, it’s the pressure caused by a weight of approximately 0.102 kilograms-force (kgf) evenly distributed over an area of 1 m2.
Because sometimes smaller areas and forces are involved, pressure is often measured in kilopascals (kPa; 1 kPa = 1000 Pa) or even megapascals (MPa; 1 MPa = 1,000,000 Pa).
In your interview with Matīss Kaža, he mentions a social media campaign called “#SupportTheStream”. Can you tell us more about the goals and impact of this campaign?
ARCHYDE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Against the Tides: Navigating Piracy with “Straume” Producer Matīss Kaža
Archyde (ARD): Thank you for joining us today, Matīss. “Straume” has certainly made waves in the animation world, with 60 awards under it’s belt, including a recent win at the Limiers. How does it feel to have received such widespread acclaim amidst the challenges your team faced?
Matīss Kaža (MK): Thanks for having me. It’s incredibly gratifying, especially considering the challenges we’ve faced. The reception to “Straume” has been overwhelmingly positive, and that makes every hurdle we’ve overcome worth it.
ARD: Let’s dive into one of those hurdles – piracy. It’s a persistent issue for the film industry,but it seems “Straume” has faced it head-on. What was your initial reaction when you realized the extent of piracy affecting the film?
MK: It was frustrating, to say the least. We poured our hearts into creating “Straume,” and to see it being freely downloaded from countless illegal websites was disheartening. But we quickly realized that getting angry wasn’t going to help. We needed to find a way to turn the tide.
ARD: And you certainly did. Can you walk us through some of the strategies you and your team implemented to combat piracy?
MK: Absolutely. First,we tackled the issue legally. We sent takedown notices to hosting platforms and search engines to remove infringing content. This was a time-consuming process, but it was crucial for protecting our work.Simultaneously, we advocated for stricter penalties against piracy and lobbied for better enforcement of intellectual property laws.
ARD: Your approach was also very shows you prioritized educating the audience about the impact of piracy. Tell us more about that.
MK: Indeed. We believed that if people understood the real consequences of their actions, they’d be more likely to support creators directly. so, we launched a social media campaign called “#SupportTheStream.” We shared stories behind the scenes, explained the hard work that goes into making an animated film, and emphasized how piracy undermines that effort. The response was heartening; many fans pledged to only watch “straume” through legal channels.
ARD: You’ve mentioned that this issue isn’t unique to “Straume.” So, what advice would you give to other filmmakers facing similar challenges?
MK: Firstly, don’t lose hope. Piracy is a daunting issue, but it’s not insurmountable. Secondly, educate yourself. Learn about digital rights management, file-sharing platforms, and legal options.lastly, engage with your audience. Build relationships with your fans, show them the love and dedication you pour into your work.If they understand and appreciate that, they’re more likely to support you and stand against piracy.
ARD: Your perspective is refreshing, Matīss.It’s clear that “Straume” is more than just an acclaimed animated film; it’s a testament to resilience and advocacy. What’s next for you and the team?
MK: Thank you. We’re currently working on our next animated feature. While we’re excited about the new project, we’re also committed to continuing the fight against piracy. We want to ensure that fellow creators – both upcoming and established – are supported and protected in the digital age.
ARD: Well, we look forward to seeing what you and the team will create next. Thank you for your time, Matīss, and congratulations on “straume’s” success.
MK: Thank you. It’s been an honor talking to you.
