Foreign guests
A lot of prominent international guests have accepted our invitation and met with our audience since the beginning of the Festival, for example: the legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog (2010); the renowned expert on chimpanzees Jane Goodall (2011, when the film “Jane’s Journey” premiered); the British actress Charlotte Rampling (2012, “Charlotte Rampling: The Look”), the rapper M.I.A. (2018, “Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.”), and Cicciolina, a porn star and a former member of the parliament (2017, “La Cicciolina: Godmother of Scandal”) and a remarkable, Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Hubert Sauper (2020, “Darwin’s Nightmare”). One of the most prominent cinema events of the 19th edition of the Festival in 2022 was the clash of giants - masters of working on archive material: Sergei Loznitsa and Bill Morrison.
In 2023, audiences had the opportunity to listen to and ask questions to 124 filmmakers or protagonists of films during 127 meetings with them. The 20th edition of MDAG provided a chance to meet with numerous distinguished figures from the world of documentary cinema. The festival once again hosted creators and film subjects hailing from various corners of the globe, creating an extraordinary occasion for personal conversations and the exchange of ideas.
Among the festival guests, director Sam Green stood out, arriving with the interactive project "32 Sounds." Green was an Oscar nominee for the 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 "Videocracy." Meanwhile, 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 Apolonia Sokół, a French painter with Polish roots, who visited Warsaw and engaged with the audience. Her works convey strong political messages, and Apolonia herself fights for women's rights and minorities through her art.
Vitaly Mansky, an outstanding documentary director and producer known for his bold productions, returned to MDAG with the gripping film "Eastern Front," portraying the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Andreas Koefoed and Jorgen Leth collaborated on the film "Music for Black Pigeons," offering a universal perspective on the creation of music. The festival also featured a concert by Danish guitarist Jakob Bro, the subject 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 numerous Polish creators. Jakub Piątek shared his film "Pianoforte" with the audience, which had its world premiere at Sundance. Kuba Mikurda, a well-known film director and researcher, presented the world of Stanisław Lem in "Solaris Mon Amour," which garnered significant interest from the audience.
Agnieszka Zwiefka, the director of the film "Vika!" and the film's protagonist, DJ Vika, captured the hearts of audiences in several festival cities. Alisa Kovalenko - a Ukrainian director who herself participated in the frontlines of the war triggered by the Russian invasion in Ukraine - was the face of this year's festival poster. Her film "We Will Not Fade Away," a Polish co-production, had its world premiere at the Berlinale.
The 20th edition of Millennium Docs Against Gravity showcased a wealth of perspectives, deep reflection, and inspiring stories that connect documentary filmmakers and audiences.
Feedback from foreign guests INVITED IN 2023:
“Just want to say thank you so much for inviting me to your amazing festival! So many good people and interesting projects.
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“Thank you for your generous hospitality and the stimulating industry activities. I enjoyed meeting so many talented and interesting Polish and Ukrainian filmmakers and their projects. In particular, I thought the POLE POSITION pitching sessions were very smart, the pitches intrigued me to the degree that I changed my screening plans to prioritize two films that I was introduced to in POLE POSITION.”
“I was impressed by the film program in general and by the projects that were being pitched at the forum. The moderation at the Forum was very well done, I also liked the variety of the experts.”
“I’m always a big fan of pitching sessions (being showered in other people’s creativity is a great privilege), and in this case I found most of the projects very convincing and I loved the way the moderators tried to make the pitchers feel at ease, so they could shine on stage instead of burst out in tears. This is something I strongly support (and what I strive for in all the pitches I’ve moderated).”
“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.”
“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!”