Seven cities, over 165,000 viewers in 2024, and hundreds of volunteers across the country—all these people, institutions, and places make up the MDAG festival family. Thanks to their work and love for cinema, Millennium Docs Against Gravity has, over two decades, become the second-largest documentary film festival in Europe, right after IDFA in Amsterdam. Such a massive undertaking is the result of many people's dedication. This year’s poster focuses on the largest group among them—the volunteers. Its premiere coincides with the launch of pass and accreditation sales for the Warsaw edition of the event.
The 22nd MDAG will take place from May 9 to May 18, 2025, in cinemas across seven cities (Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdynia, Poznań, Katowice, Łódź, and Bydgoszcz) and online from May 20 to June 2 at mdag.pl!
Volunteers on the 22nd MDAG Poster
Anna Starzewska and Zofia Mańkowska are the faces of this year’s Millennium Docs Against Gravity. Both have been festival volunteers for years, helping shape MDAG along with hundreds of others across the country, including over 300 in Warsaw alone. For Zofia, the 22nd edition will mark her third year working in the press office. Anna has been attending MDAG as a viewer for years, and this will be her eighth year as a festival co-creator. Over time, she has worked as an auditorium assistant and served on the intergenerational jury.
Both admit that MDAG brings the arrival of a "cinematic spring," as life gains momentum after the cold months.
"For me, the festival is a celebration of true cinema. The world moves at such a dizzying pace that it's hard to grasp, but MDAG helps me understand it, at least in part. Documentaries simplify complex issues and make them more accessible. They often reveal inconvenient truths, expose manipulation, and help us notice what we usually overlook. They don’t provide ready-made answers but encourage reflection. I’ve been a volunteer at this event for over seven years, and I always look forward to it with excitement. The festival is not just about films but also about discussions with filmmakers, protagonists, and other viewers. It’s a space where emotions and thoughts are shared during post-screening meetings. To me, the festival is also about the unique atmosphere and the opportunity to connect with wonderful people who share a curiosity and sensitivity to the world," says Anna.
"I first discovered MDAG years ago thanks to my mother, who is a film scholar. She sent me a link to the volunteer application with the note: 'Something for you.' And it really was! This year, I will be volunteering at MDAG for the third time. My mother sent me that link for a reason—I had started developing an interest in documentary art, including film, photography, and literary reportage. I believe that documentary film, as one of the few artistic forms, can present things in their rawest essence. Volunteering at MDAG is an expression of my love for film and culture. And though it may sound grandiose or cliché, through the festival, I have met and continue to meet amazing people—not only those who create the festival but also those who experience it," adds Zofia.
"Often, the volunteers at our festival are not as visible as the filmmakers or protagonists. That’s why, this year, we decided to shift the spotlight onto them and showcase this crucial part of the festival community, whose love for cinema drives an enormous amount of work. In addition to being featured on the poster, our volunteers will be involved in creative initiatives and activities throughout MDAG, which we will be sharing more about in the coming weeks. Many people currently working full-time or seasonally for the festival began their documentary film journey as MDAG volunteers. This year, we are focusing on the core value of community—created not only by the incredible individuals working on the festival but, most importantly, by the audience. Viewers engage in discussions after screenings and then take action to create a better world. Another vital part of the festival is the community of filmmakers who present crucial issues shaping our reality," says Mateusz Góra, MDAG’s Head of Communications.
The photos used for this year’s festival poster were taken by photographer Paweł Kocan (@kocpan), who will also be on the jury for the Best Cinematography Award. "I’m honored to have had the opportunity to create the photographs for this year's festival poster! Until now, I had only been a festival attendee, and MDAG is one of my favorite festivals, making this an even more exciting experience. In my photography, I draw inspiration from observing people and their relationships, so I was thrilled to learn that our protagonists would be volunteers. Their behind-the-scenes hard work often goes unnoticed, yet they are the ones ensuring festival attendees have a memorable experience. Volunteering is about community, connections, friendships, and fun. These values guided us in creating the poster. I wish all this year’s festival attendees an amazing time, full of joy and new friendships!" says Paweł.
For the third time, MDAG’s visual identity has been designed by Bartek Bojarczuk (@ill.cat), Creative Director at ILLCAT.studio: "This year, while designing the festival’s visual identity, we focused on a geometric, condensed letterform for MDAG. It fosters a sense of closeness and community. Expanding on this idea, intersecting vertical and horizontal lines represent the festival as a platform where various thoughts and perspectives meet. The colors from previous editions have been combined into a dynamic gradient. This serves as another level of graphic interpretation—symbolizing consolidation and the blurring of boundaries."
Pass and Accreditation Sales for the Warsaw Edition of MDAG
The poster’s release marks the launch of pass and accreditation sales for the 22nd edition of MDAG in Warsaw. Tickets are available at book.mdag.pl. Sales will continue until April 30 or until all passes are sold out.
Festival passes are available for 300 PLN at this link. More details on how passes work can be found here. The pass grants access to a rich selection of nearly 180 high-quality documentary films from around the world.
Media and industry professionals are encouraged to apply for a media or industry accreditation by filling out the form at this link. The accreditation costs 220 PLN, and applicants will be notified within a few days regarding approval. More details on accreditation are available here.
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/).
