Our Mission
Millennium Docs Against Gravity initiated the trend of documentary films in Poland and has since generated broad interest among audiences, a result of the consistently developed and attractive festival program. The growing audience, the festival's international stature, and the increasing number of partners reflect the validity of the festival's development concept and the creation of a community of audiences and co-organizing organizations for one of the most important film events in Poland. The 20th edition of the festival in 2023 gathered an audience of over 144,000 people. As the only film festival in Europe, it takes place simultaneously in 8 cities: Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdynia, Poznań, Katowice, Lublin, Bydgoszcz, and Łódź.
Our festival is evolving in a nomadic manner, in line with the 21st century, seeking audiences all over the country. We believe this is the future of film festivals. We take the priorities of promoting film culture by our partnering institutions who financially support the festival very seriously. MDAG is also a co-founder and member of the Doc Alliance, which brings together seven key European documentary film festivals: CPH: DOX Copenhagen, DOK Leipzig, IDFF Jihlava, FID Marseille, Visions du Réel Nyon, Doclisboa, and Millennium Docs Against Gravity.
Our festival was the first in Poland to introduce a competition for the best feature-length documentary film (Bank Millennium Award). In 2009 and 2023, our festival received the prestigious award from the Polish Film Institute for the "most important international film event" in Poland. The festival was also nominated in the same category in 2013.
OVER 144 000 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN 20TH MILLENNIUM DOCS AGAINST GRAVITY FILM FESTIVAL [SEE PHOTOS]
Our reach and festival goers
MDAG is the largest film festival in Poland, the most significant celebration of documentary art in the country, and one of the largest film events worldwide.
It is the only film festival in Europe that takes place simultaneously in eight different cities (Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdynia, Katowice, Poznań, Lublin, Bydgoszcz, and Łódź).
Total amount of festival goers in 2023: 144 483 participants
Total amount of films in the 2023 programme: 188 titles
Our viewers
Great success of 2nd MDAG INDUSTRY!
The 2nd edition of MDAG Industry demonstrated that the event is growing in strength and becoming one of the most significant platforms for the development of the documentary industry in Poland!
MDAG Industry is a unique project in the film industry that brings together Polish creators with international representatives of festivals, distributors, producers, sales agents, and renowned stars of contemporary cinema.
We started in 2021 with a single event, and in 2022, we created an expanded module of industry events under the MDAG Industry. This year, we offered a comprehensive program - another step in the development of industry initiatives.
This year, 1010 people participated in events within the framework of MDAG Industry!
2023
Winners
Partners
Total amount of media patrons:
25
Total amount of festival partners:
49
Media presence
Amount of publications/appearances in 2023:
6008
AVE (Advertising Value Equivalent) in 2023:
30 479 870 PLN
Events
The schedule of the 20th MDAG encompassed a total of 292 accompanying events, concerts, and Q&A sessions - both offline and online.
Audiences had the opportunity to listen to and ask questions to 124 creators or film protagonists during 127 meetings with them.
Q&A’s with artists
The 20th edition of MDAG provided an opportunity to meet with numerous prominent figures from the world of documentary cinema. The festival once again hosted filmmakers and film protagonists from various corners of the globe, creating a remarkable occasion for personal conversations and exchange of ideas.
Among the festival guests was director Sam Green, who brought his interactive project "32 Sounds." Green was nominated for an Oscar for his film "The Weather Underground." Erik Gandini, the Italian-Swedish director and a friend of the festival, presented "After Work." Gandini is known for hits like "The Swedish Theory of Love" and "The End of Consumption." Danish director Lea Glob triumphed this year in the MDAG Main Competition with the film "Apolonia, Apolonia," which also garnered numerous awards at other international festivals.
It's also worth mentioning the titular figure, Apolonia Sokół, a French painter with Polish roots, who visited Warsaw and met with the audience. Her works convey a strong political message, and Apolonia herself advocates for women's and minority rights through her art.
Vitaly Mansky, an exceptional documentary director and producer renowned for his daring productions, returned to MDAG with the impactful film "Easter Front", showcasing the frontlines of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Andreas Koefoed and Jorgen Leth collaborated on the film "Music For Black Pigeons", offering a universal exploration of the creation of music. The festival also featured a concert by Danish guitarist Jakob Bro, the protagonist of the film, who performed alongside Norwegian trumpeter Arve Henriksen and drummer Joey Baron, delivering an unforgettable musical experience.
As every year, the festival hosted many Polish creators. Jakub Piątek shared his film "Pianoforte" with the audience, which premiered at Sundance. Kuba Mikurda, a well-known filmmaker and film theorist, introduced the world of Stanisław Lem through "Solaris Mon Amour", which garnered immense interest from the audience.
Agnieszka Zwiefka, the director of "Vika!" and the film's protagonist, DJ Vika, captured the hearts of the audience in several festival cities. The face of this year's festival poster was Alisa Kovalenko, a Ukrainian director who personally participated in the frontlines of the war sparked by the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Her film "We Will Not Fade Away", a Polish co-production, premiered at the Berlinale.
The 20th edition of Millennium Docs Against Gravity showcased a wealth of perspectives, profound reflection, and inspiring stories that connect documentary filmmakers and audiences.
Debates and workshops
During the 20th edition of the festival, a total of 48 events took place, including 20 accompanying events, 6 music events, 17 events in the Safe Space, and 5 online events.
The Jubilee edition of the Millennium Docs Against Gravity festival allowed us to reflect together with prominent creators of documentary cinema on the past two decades of history, in accordance with the words: "Thou Shalt Not Be Indifferent" We paid attention to people who, through their documentary work, bring us closer to the experiences of others, help us see what is not always visible from afar, and thereby mobilize us to take action. We discussed the exceptional value of cinema itself, which teaches us sensitivity to the world.
We peered behind the scenes of documentary plans with guests from across the ocean: Margaret Ratliff, who is a co-producer and key participant in the film "Subject" in which she analyzes her involvement in the production of the 2018 Netflix true-crime documentary "The Staircase," and now works for the non-profit organization Documentary Participants Empowerment Alliance. Recognizing that the lives of heroes and heroines translated into film language, along with the premiere date, change irreversibly, we pondered the price they pay for sharing their stories and how to effectively care for the mental health and rights of those whose private lives can be observed by people around the globe.
We also departed from documentary material, examining the behind-the-scenes of intimate scenes in Polish film. In the company of intimacy coordinator Marta Łachacz, Polish casting director Paulina Krajnik, and acting duo Anna Szymańczyk and Hubert Miłkowski, we discussed the evolution of intimacy on the screen and highlighted creators who bravely pave the way for changes in connection with the film "Body Parts".
We delved into the utopian dream of an ideal world. Alongside Martyna Wojciechowska, Aleksandra Rutkowska, and Marta Bąkowska, we stood up for "young minds" to better understand the feelings of those growing up, and to help them effectively in times of crisis, all following the film "Hummingbirds".
We sought a way to engage in dialogue with people of differing worldviews, in the company of distinguished scientists: Prof. Monika Kostera and Prof. Anna Giza, prompted by the film "Polish Prayers".
We remained close to nature, as we do every year: inspired by Patagonia, during a debate hosted by WFF Poland, we expanded our knowledge about privately protected areas, also showcased in the film "Wild Life". We looked at the Polish backyard, seeking answers to the question: Can the rich save the world? We also posed numerous questions in a debate with Amnesty International Poland following the film "Investigator". We learned what the work of investigators looks like in countries torn by war and global hotspots. To find answers, we connected with Brian Castner - an expert in explosives, improvised explosive devices, post-blast investigations, as well as chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. A former soldier and bomb technician in the United States Air Force, he served in Iraq, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
Together with the queer collective from Katowice, "Śląsk Przegięty", we opened the first "docu-drag show" in the history of the festival. Amidst the glitters, to the sounds of pop and operatic hits, intimate tales of personal identities blended with astonishing queer stories extracted from local archives.
Our viewers had the opportunity not only to admire movement but also to try their hand at dancing. In collaboration with the Dramatic Theatre in Warsaw, we harnessed the musical energy of Pina Bausch (as shown in the film "Dancing Pina"), whose stage was always a meeting place for individuals of diverse backgrounds, appearances, and dispositions. Alongside Katarzyna Małachowska, we proved, in line with Pina's words, that each of us is a dancer. The encounter with Pina Bausch's working method was primarily a beautiful encounter with oneself.
We contemplated art here and now, together with our guests, discussing the inclusivity of museum exhibitions following the film "White Balls on Walls". We also examined the history of sisterhood in various industries, from literature to the world of electronic music, inspired by the film "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood".
Bartek Chaciński brought us closer to the globally known composition, the titular "Bella Ciao", which crossed geographical boundaries and penetrated various cultural contexts, along with several other surprising histories of melodies that we don't bid farewell to but perhaps only say, "until we hear you again."
Safe Space MDAG
Screening room No. 6 - at this address, in the heart of the festival, the Warsaw Kinoteka (with the exception of one event in the upper foyer of Teatr Studio), a magical zone of freedom - Safe Space - was created for the first time in MDAG's history.
We established a secure haven - free from judgment and prejudice - for joyful and serious discussions, workshops, and meetings on all phenomena that shape our inner world.
In collaboration with our partner Wellbee, psychologists were stationed around the zone, offering therapeutic consultations or simply a platform to ask any questions, discuss emotions, and share experiences related to film screenings.
Main Partner: Wellbee
Partners: KPH, #sexedpl Foundation, UNAWEZA Foundation, Młode Głowy, It Girls (Sold Out Agency), Newsweek Psychology, Noizz.pl, Gazeta.pl, Radio 357
Feedback from festival guests
"Thank you so, so much for the invitation, for the fantastic hospitality, for the pleasant atmosphere, and for the overall warmth of your event. What you are doing is truly remarkable, and I know I'm not the only one who thinks so, as both colleagues from the industry and filmmakers themselves seem to share this sentiment!"
- Ania Trzebiatowska (Sundance Film Festival)
“Big big thank you for the unique experience that I had in Warsaw. It was really good to attend the Industry sessions and to have your awesome company in my stay.”
- Rodrigo Pedro (Doclisboa)
The festival is on all year round
A look at the Against Gravity film cycles
May is particularly important for us because that is when we get to meet you during our festival screenings. However we continue to work throughout the year, organizing film cycles to promote education and important social issues. They appear in various cities, giving a wide audience the opportunity to see festival (and not just festival) hits.
VOD.MDAG.PL!
Everything started with Millennium Docs Against Gravity, the biggest film festival in Poland. In 2020, a memorable year, the festival introduced a hybrid formula: over 100 films were presented online after the cinema edition. Its tremendous success served as further proof that it was time to create a new place on the Web for the most interesting documentaries and feature films—a place where anyone could broaden their knowledge of our reality, look upon other people with tenderness, and discover the most pressing problems of the modern world.
We favor diversity of subjects, which is why our catalogue features plenty of movies about politics, the society, psychology, science, sport, art, architecture, and fashion. Feature films available on our platform are mainly art-house pictures that push the boundaries of contemporary cinematic language.
In addition to promoting film culture and delivering powerful experiences to our viewers, sparking curiosity is a major part of our mission. This is why we introduced a separate section of our platform devoted to broadly defined modern education. While mainly intended for the attendees of our courses at top Polish universities, it’s also a great choice for students as well as parents and kids. Extensive additional material allows for a broader understanding of the stories presented in the films and creates more interactive content for everyone whose curiosity about the world led them to vod.mdag.pl.