Millennium Docs Against Gravity is not just about cinema. It’s also a space for empathy and the exchange of experiences, in line with this year’s theme: “A Whole World Between Us”. As part of the accompanying events during the 22nd edition of MDAG, audiences will be able to take part in talks, meetings, workshops, and even... walks, offering a chance to step into surprising, new worlds.
This year’s program of events is incredibly diverse — in addition to the traditional discussions expanding on topics raised by the films, Barbara Wrona, who is curating this important part of the festival this year, has prepared activities that extend beyond the cinema space. They will allow participants to experience the films from unexpected perspectives.
Tickets for films and all festival events are already available for purchase on the festival website mdag.pl, at cinema box offices, and via the platform book.mdag.pl.
To help navigate the extensive program, all activities are divided into categories on the festival website under the "Events" tab: debates and meetings, XR experiences, parties and concerts, workshops, masterclasses, special events, school events, and MDAG Industry. Below we present the curatorial text by Barbara Wrona.
Talks and Discussions
As every year, we have prepared an extensive program of talks and discussions that delve deeper into the topics addressed by the films.
We will start with a discussion organized with WWF Poland on the sovereignty and rights of Indigenous peoples who have been protecting nature for generations. The meeting will follow the screening of "Yintah" during which the WWF Award will be presented to a special guest — Chief Woos from the Wet’suwet’en Nation, whose efforts to preserve their land are depicted in the film.
In the spirit of protection, resistance, and remembrance, there will also be a discussion organized with Politykamagazine following the screening of "Green is the New Red" focusing on the history and current realities of persecuted environmental defenders in Latin America.
We will also venture into the world of politics and digital traps: following "Hacking Hate" there will be a live recording of Gazeta.pl’s podcast "Co to będzie" featuring Marta Nowak and Miłosz Wiatrowski-Bujacz, who will discuss the strategies and recruitment methods of the far-right. Meanwhile, with journalists from OKO.press, we will discuss the role of investigative journalism in the age of disinformation after the screening of "The Grab."
The program also includes discussions on culture, art, and identity:
Together with MINT Magazine, after the screening of "More Than a Museum" we will explore the role of museums in public space, especially in the context of the new Museum of Modern Art building in Warsaw.
The story of Genesis P-Orridge and the film "S/He Is Still Her/e: The Official Genesis P-Orridge Documentary" will serve as a springboard for a conversation on industrial culture and occultism in the underground art and magic scene, co-organized with Okultura Publishing House.
Following the screening of "Trans Memoria," together with QueerMuzeum and Noizz.pl, we will discuss queer archives as a form of resisting the erasure of non-heteronormative histories.
We will also reflect on how to build relationships in a world of fractured models. In the Newsweek Psychology discussion following "Portrait of a Confused Father" we will consider the challenges modern men face in forming bonds with their children and explore new definitions of fatherhood amidst evolving perceptions of masculinity.
As part of the Czarne event accompanying "A Want in Her," we will explore the effects of toxic parental relationships on children’s lives and ask: how do we love when maternal love wounds?
Additionally, we will turn our attention to the younger generation. During the MŁODE GŁOWY debate after the screening of "Speak." we will discuss how to support the talents and voices of young people as they enter adulthood.
There will also be room for reflections on love in its new forms. Together with Filmoterapia.pl, after "Trust Me," we invite you to a conversation about the opportunities and challenges of open relationships: How to talk about desires and needs? Is this model suitable for everyone? These are some of the questions we will explore during this year’s Filmoterapia session.
Special Events
This year, we are also presenting a unique selection of special events, often taking on surprising forms and expanding beyond the traditional film festival format.
One of them is the Charity Stand-Up for Palestine organized in partnership with Klub Komediowy, featuring Noam Shuster-Eliassi, protagonist of the film "Coexistence, My Ass!" Through humor, she challenges dominant social narratives and advocates for equality. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Clean Shelter Foundation.
Photography enthusiasts will enjoy two workshops organized in collaboration with the Łódź Fotofestiwal.
First, Photo Roulette with Karolina Wojtas, following the screening of "World Between Us" invites participants to abandon perfectionism and engage in a free, creative photographic play.
Second, Introduction to Conscious Seeing, or Yoga of Vision, combines practical eye training with theoretical sessions to encourage questioning our ways of perceiving reality and discovering new ways of seeing.
Another creative event will be Collective Love Poem Writing after the screening of "Come See Me in a Good Light," a film about a poet living with a terminal illness. This informal writing session, led by poet and writer Grzegorz Uzdański, invites anyone who wishes to express their feelings and reflections.
One of the most surprising events at this year’s festival is the Film Walk on Wilcza Street with Arjun Talwar, director of "Letters from Wilcza Street". During the walk, Arjun will explore the world central to his film and introduce participants to the mosaic of hidden stories and fascinating characters he encountered.
Finally, we invite all food lovers to a special event! Together with Puro Hotel, we present the Warsaw edition of Film to Table, a unique culinary-film experience combining a film screening with a tasting dinner inspired by the film "Folktales" The dinner will take place at the MUND restaurant, where Nordic flavors will provide an additional space for reflection inspired by the film.
