The first films by young and talented filmmakers offer them a successful entry into the magical world of cinema. To support emerging talents, the Millennium Docs Against Gravity festival will once again present the First Appearance Award. The winning film will be chosen by an intergenerational jury composed of both teenagers and people aged 55 and over. This year, 11 films from around the world will compete for the title!
A new addition to this year’s festival program is the Contrasting American section, which explores what has become of the American dream in recent years. What films are included in this new section?
Fresh Perspectives in the First Appearance Award
This year’s debuts are both vivid portrayals of specific, often surprising places and intimate glimpses into the lives of extraordinary individuals. They tell stories of phenomena that shape our understanding of the world and document events that leave lasting marks on individual lives. Each film represents a sharp, new-generation perspective on the language and themes of documentary cinema.
"Home Game"
Lidija Zelovic’s "Home Game" is a funny, confrontational, and honest film about the director’s life as an emigrant from Sarajevo now living in the Netherlands. "World Between Us", directed by Maria Dvořáková, follows the story of Maria Tomanová, who left her hometown of Mikulov in the Czech Republic to become an au pair in the U.S., and now works as a fashion photographer for major brands and magazines.
"My Sunnyside"
Among the competition entries are also moving stories of transformation. "My Sunnyside" by Matylda Kawka is a heartwarming tale about the relationship and shared transition of Jo, a trans man, and Allie, the love of his life, a trans woman. In "Trans Memoria", Swedish artist and director Victoria Verseau offers a deeply personal portrayal of what it means to be a trans woman, documenting her emotions and gender affirmation surgery from her own perspective.
Debuting filmmakers also take us on journeys to distant corners of the world. "Hills of Wrath" by Leò Boudet presents a year in a vineyard on the Rhine, capturing the stunning seasonal beauty of the landscape paired with a warm, family-like atmosphere. In "Abode of Dawn", Kristina Schtubert documents life in a utopian religious community founded in the early 1990s by a former traffic officer in the depths of the Russian taiga. The director lived with the sect for ten years—what does life there look like?
"Hills of Wrath"
Two films explore regions gripped by conflict: "Songs of Slow Burning Earth" by Olha Zhurba is an audiovisual diary filmed over two years at varying distances from the frontlines, immersing viewers in Ukraine’s descent into total war. "Writing Hawa" by Najiba Noori is a personal story filmed over five years, portraying the director’s mother Hawa and teenage niece Zahra, and showing how the Taliban destroyed hard-won progress for women in Afghanistan.
The remaining three films in the Debut Competition are intimate coming-of-age stories set in challenging circumstances. "A Want In Her" by Myrid Carten balances dark humor with the grit of Ken Loach-style social drama, portraying a unique relationship between a mother battling alcoholism and her daughter. "Flophouse America" by Monica Strømdahl also delves into the struggles of a dysfunctional family. Twelve-year-old Mikal was born and raised in a hotel room shared with his parents, both battling addiction. His biggest wish is for them to stop drinking—but what does it take for someone to truly change?
"A Want In Her"
The protagonists of "Sisterqueens" by Clara Stella Huneke are girls aged 9 to 12 living in Berlin and taking their first steps in hip-hop. With humor and honesty, they ask: what does it mean to be yourself today?
The Unfiltered U.S. in the Contrasting America section
This new section features stories that explore social change in the United States over the past few decades. Social and political issues intertwine with narratives of individual lives and choices. Two of the films mentioned above—"My Sunnyside" and "Flophouse America"—will also appear in this section. What other titles are included?
This section is presented in partnership with the weekly magazine Polityka.
"Social Studies"
For the first time, MDAG’s program includes documentary series. One of them is "Social Studies" by Lauren Greenfield, which portrays Gen Z life at a high school in Los Angeles. Captivating and thought-provoking, the series captures a transformative period in young people’s lives and allows them to speak in their own voices.
Equally powerful are the voices in "Speak." by Jennifer Tiexiera and Guy Mossman, which follows five participants in one of the largest public speaking competitions in the U.S.—a contest that once saw names like Oprah Winfrey and Brad Pitt. The film takes viewers behind the scenes of this prestigious tournament.
"Free Leonard Peltier"
Other films in the section examine individuals clashing with American institutions. "Free Leonard Peltier", directed by David France and Jesse Short Bull, tells the story of the titular activist, embroiled in a conflict between Native American rights advocates and the U.S. government. Peltier was imprisoned for a murder he did not commit—a case now considered one of the most discredited in American legal history. Though he eventually regained his freedom, he was never pardoned.
The flaws of the justice system are also exposed in "Baby Doe" by Jessica Earnshaw. Gail Ritchey abandoned her newborn in a forest 30 years ago. Now a mother of three, her suburban peace is shattered when DNA evidence links her to the so-called “Geauga Child.” She is arrested for murder despite claiming the baby was stillborn. What really happened, and why?
The imperfections of the American education system are on display in "An American Pastoral" by Auberi Edler. As elections approach, debates flare over public school curricula. Fundamentalist candidates stir up an atmosphere of white supremacy, conspiracy, and Christian nationalism. Democrats fear these trends could lead to a theocratic vision of education. What choice will voters make?
"An American Pastoral"
"Predators" by David Osit tackles the legally and ethically questionable tactic of using bait to catch potential pedophiles and broadcasting their arrests. The film revisits the controversial early-2000s show "To Catch a Predator", questioning the consequences of such media. Why are we drawn to this kind of content? Are we complicit in consuming entertainment that feeds on humiliation and pain?
The 22nd MDAG will take place from May 9 to 18, 2025, in cinemas in Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdynia, Poznań, Katowice, Bydgoszcz, and Łódź, and from May 20 to June 2 online at mdag.pl! The festival’s title sponsor is Bank Millennium. (https://www.bankmillennium.pl/).
