12 FILMS IN THE POLISH COMPETITION OF THE 21ST MDAG!
"The art of cinema portrays what is sometimes intangible and inexpressible - in Polish documentary films from 2024, we see a hunger for closeness, honesty, finding oneself in relation to the world and others, a desire to overcome one's own weaknesses, and to see reality anew," says Wojciech Diduszko, director of the Polish Competition at MDAG. The best Polish documentary productions will compete during Millennium Docs Against Gravity for three awards - Award for Best Polish Film, Smakjam Award for the Best Production, and Arthouse Cinema Association Award. Nine out of twelve competition films will have their world premieres at the festival. Six films were directed by men and six by women.
"This year, a record number of films applied to the Polish Competition, which, of course, immensely pleases us as it demonstrates the festival's significance. On the other hand, it worries us because among the films we couldn't select were some very good titles.
The art of cinema portrays what is sometimes intangible and inexpressible - in Polish documentary films from 2024, we see a hunger for closeness, honesty, finding oneself in relation to the world and others, a desire to overcome one's own weaknesses, and to see reality anew. We live in times of transition and the establishment of new hierarchies of values - at their peak will surely be the need for close relationships with others, self-creation in dialogue, care, and mindfulness - all of these traits can be found in the new Polish films.
At MDAG, we will meet, among others, 19-year-old DJ Marysia ("Rave"), musicians with a history ("Twenty years later: C.K.O.D.3"), a family helping refugees ("Forest"), heroines fighting for the right of Polish women to abortion ("Abortion Dream Team"), or Gosia proving that a young person living with schizophrenia can find their place in society ("Just Hear Me Out"). Man does not live by the present alone - at MDAG, we will also encounter giants of Polish (pop) culture - Wanda Rutkiewicz ("The Last Expedition") and Marek Hłasko ("8th Day of Khamsin"), whose fates and characters we will see in a completely new light.
Screenings of Polish films to full houses, moving and thrilling encounters with protagonists and creators are always my favorite moments at the festival. I have never looked forward to May as much as this one!" - says Wojciech Diduszko, director of the Polish Competition.
POLISH COMPETITION OF 21st MDAG
8th Day of Khamsin, dir. Zvika Gregory Portnoy
MDAG 2024: World Premiere
Marek Hłasko, ”the Polish James Dean”, a writer and a reveler, comes to Israel in the late 1950s. This land and people become his inspiration, and at the same time a trap for him. He carefully observes immigrants who try to settle in a new place.
Well of Dreams, dir. Paweł Tarasiewicz
MDAG 2024: World Premiere
Reema works in the Well of Death – a carnival sideshow in Pakistan, living the life of a nomad. Shattered by the loss of her love – Asif, heartbroken Reema travels back to her ”Guru”, who runs the transgender house where she grew up.
Twenty Years After: C.K.O.D.3, dir. Piotr Szczepański
MDAG 2024: World Premiere
Twenty years after its foundation and ten years after disbanding, Cool Kids of Death starts a special tour of concerts now having a cult status. Will this reunion bring something more than just purely mercantile benefits?
Fakir, dir. Roman Ďuriš
MDAG 2024: World Premiere
The psychological journey of Dalibor, a young Romani man from a dysfunctional family, is set against the backdrop of a Slovak slum. This gripping, immersive, and cinematic experience delves into the captivating life at the edge of society.
When Harmattan Blows, dir. Edyta Wróblewska
MDAG 2024: World Premiere
Barbara lives in Accra (Ghana). As an eight-year-old girl, she shared the fate of thousands of Ghanaian children who were put to slave labour by their own parents. She returns to her hometown to solve some family problems and finally confront her parents.
Forest, dir. Lidia Duda
MDAG 2024: Polish Premiere (World Premiere: Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival - Silver Alexander in International Competition)
Asia and Marek created their own paradise in the forest, a place where their children were going to grow up safely, far away from the problems of today’s world. Yet, one day, big politics came knocking on their door. And nothing was the same anymore.
Abortion Dream Team, dir. Karolina Domagalska
MDAG 2024: World Premiere
Every third woman in the world will have an abortion. That’s a fact. But in Poland there's a near-total abortion law as the government treats the life of the fetus as more important than the life of a woman. Luckily, there is Abortion Dream Team.
The Last Expedition, dir. Eliza Kubarska
MDAG 2024: World Premiere
The true story of Wanda Rutkiewicz, the first woman in the world and the first person from Poland to climb the highest peaks on earth, told by herself. Wanda entered the men's world of mountaineers uninvited and paid the highest price for it.
Just Hear Me Out, dir. Małgorzata Imielska
MDAG 2024: Polish Premiere (World Premiere: DOK.fest)
After 2 years in a mental hospital, Gosia, 18, is returning to her family and friends. As every other young woman, all she wants is a chance at ordinary life: to finish her studies and meet someone who will love her.
Rave, dir. Łukasz Ronduda, Dawid Nickel
MDAG 2024: World Premiere
The film tells the story of the evolution of rave music and subculture in Poland. Two young ravers will guide us through this world: Marysia and Janusz, along with Marcello Zamenhoff – a performance artist and one of the pioneers of Polish rave.
In Limbo, dir. Alina Maksimenko
MDAG 2024: Polish Premiere (World Premiere: Visions du Réel)
Russia's invasion of Ukraine finds Alina in Irpien, near Kiev. She manages to escape and reaches a cottage in a nearby village where her parents are stuck. However, the front is getting closer and closer, and they have to make a decision – to stay or to run away?
Life and Deaths of Max Linder, dir. Edward Porembny
MDAG 2024: World Premiere
The film depicts Max Linder, the first international screen star. Max miraculously avoided death five times. And finally, at the height of his artistic powers, he and his adored wife committed a double suicide. How was this possible?
