Every year, the Millennium Docs Against Gravity festival features many films about art competing for its most unusual award – The Chopin’s Nose Award. This porcelain statuette shaped like the nose of Poland’s greatest pianist will be awarded to one of 12 moving documentary films about people completely devoted to their creative work. These are stories from different parts of the world and across disciplines – from film, music, and theatre to literature and avant-garde projects that combine various fields. The festival’s partner, the National Fryderyk Chopin Institute, funds the €2000 prize.
The 23rd MDAG will take place from May 8-17, 2026 in cinemas across seven cities (Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdynia, Poznań, Katowice, Łódź, and Bydgoszcz), and online from May 19 to June 1 at mdag.pl.
Musical sounds
[A Black man in golden clothing and a cap, surrounded by a golden installation; an orchestra in the background]
The competition lineup opens with films related to music. “Sun Ra: Do The Impossible”, dir. Christine Turner, tells the story of a jazz king who blended swing, bebop, and free jazz, pushing the boundaries of sound. In his youth, he experienced a revelation, claiming he had been transported to Saturn and called to devote himself to music. He created Afrofuturism, transforming ancient Egyptian and interstellar metaphors into a unique musical and spiritual vision.
[Panoramic view of an opera hall; props and stage design on stage, the hall is filled with light]
“La Scala: The Force of Destiny”, dir. Anissa Bonnefont, takes us to the legendary opera house in Milan. It is a place where passion, talent, and uncompromising pursuit of perfection determine everything. More than just a monumental building, it is a living organism. The film immerses viewers backstage, following artists, conductors, craftsmen, and staff as they prepare the premiere of Verdi’s The Force of Destiny.
[A Black man smiles, behind him colorful light and recording studio equipment]
What is funk? The film “We Want the Funk”, dir. Stanley Nelson, Nicole London explores this question. The genre became the soundtrack of the late 1960s, when African Americans increasingly expressed their identity with confidence and clarity. This energetic film features dazzling performances by artists such as James Brown, Sly & the Family Stone, Parliament Funkadelic, Labelle, and Fela Kuti, along with later creators. Interviews with contemporary musicians and funk ambassadors are woven into this musical story.
[A young man and an older woman at a table; behind them a projector displays a photo of a girl]
Closing this section is “Broken English”, dir. Jane Pollard, Iain Forsyth. The Ministry of Forgetting, led by Tilda Swinton, conducts its first case: Marianne Faithfull. The artist was not only a muse to the Rolling Stones – she was the face and voice of the ’68 generation. Vilified by the media and undervalued by the music industry, she survived a heart attack and drug addiction. Despite hardships, she released 35 albums, constantly reinventing herself. The film’s form, like her life, stands out from the ordinary.
Camera, action!
[A father lies with a child and smiles at them]
The competition films about cinema and theatre figures begin with a story about Oscar Isaac preparing for the role of Hamlet at The Public Theater in New York. The process is documented by his wife, Elvira Lind. In the background unfold the birth of their first child and the death of Isaac’s mother. “King Hamlet” explores the boundary between life and art, showing how an acting role interacts with personal experience and everyday life.
[A very old camera; a man peeks out from behind it, smiles, and looks at a monkey that has sat on the camera]
The dilemmas of a brilliant director are portrayed in “Roberto Rossellini – Living Without a Script”, dir. Ilaria de Laurentiis, Raffaele Brunetti, Andrea Paolo Massara. It is 1956. Roberto Rossellini – the most important figure in Italian cinema and the father of neorealism – is in crisis. His recent films with Ingrid Bergman have failed, their marriage is falling apart, and the press gives him no peace. Then comes an invitation from the Prime Minister of India, asking him to document the country’s development. This leads to his artistic rebirth.
[A Black boy in a green T-shirt has wings]
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, a group of teenagers forms a film collective called The Critics. Their village becomes a film set, green screens are sewn by hand, and neighborhood children become actors. Filmmaking becomes their refuge, and its magic a space for growing up. “Crocodile”, dir. The Critics, Pietra Brettkelly, tells their story with humor and sensitivity.
[A woman in blue overalls and a white blouse lies down, leaning on her arm and looking into the distance]
Shoshannah Stern’s “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore” takes us into the world of cinema’s most prestigious awards. In 1987, Marlee Matlin became the first Deaf actress to win an Oscar® at age 21. For many Americans, she became a symbolic representative of her community. Telling her story in sign language, she confronts pressure, stereotypes, and the loneliness of being a pioneer. The film reflects on visibility, identity, and the power of representation.
Icons of the avant-garde
[Two photos of a woman side by side; in one she has a neutral expression, and in the other she is smiling]
Outstanding artists who changed how future generations perceive reality. Two films in the competition are devoted to their contributions to art history. The first focuses on Barbara Hammer, who became a symbol of resistance for the communities around her: feminist and queer movements in 1970s San Francisco, the male-dominated New York art world of the 1980s, and the New Queer Cinema movement of the 1990s. She contributed to greater LGBTQIA+ representation in early 21st-century art and culture. “Barbara Forever”, dir. Brydie O’Connor, explores her films, archives, and cultural impact.
[A black-and-white frame from film, showing a man and a woman; the man is looking into a mirror]
The second film takes us to 1939. Six-year-old Jasia lives in Warsaw, surrounded by books belonging to her aunt Franciszka and uncle Stefan Themerson. She dreams of a future in Paris. Her childhood is shattered by events that disrupt the world’s order. “My Themersons” (Moi Themersonowie), dir. Marcin Borchardt, portrays war as an experience of fragmentation – a breakdown of language, meaning, and reality. From the perspective of a child and two artists, it presents innocence, love, and creativity as forms of resistance and a space for preserving humanity.
Signed…
[A woman wearing glasses sits on a couch reading a book. Behind her are brown panels and windows]
This year’s MDAG program also includes stories about major literary figures competing for The Chopin’s Nose Award. “Siri Hustvedt – Dance Around the Self”, dir. Sabine Lidl, is a documentary portrait of one of the most important contemporary authors, tracing her journey from Minnesota to New York. The film examines her style, reflections on language, identity, and feminism, as well as her deep bond with her husband, Paul Auster.
[An older, balding man sits at a table; he is wearing a black suit and glasses with one black lens. He is writing in a notebook]
“Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie”, dir. Alex Gibney, tells the story of how Salman Rushdie, after the brutal 2022 attack, fought to regain his health and creative voice. The film documents his process of physical and spiritual recovery. How can creative power become an act of resistance? Through reflections from his memoir “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder,” he confronts questions of violence, forgiveness, and freedom of speech. The culmination is his return to the site of the attack – a symbol of courage and resilience.
Launch of Festival Pass and Accreditation Sales for the 23rd MDAG
Photo: Dominika Scheibinger
[A cinema room full of people, looking at a performing on a stage woman]
The launch of sales of festival passes as well as media and industry accreditations for the 23rd edition of MDAG in Warsaw has already started! Sales are available at book.mdag.pl and will continue until May 1 or until passes sell out.
BUY A FESTIVAL PASS OR AN ACCREDITATION
Festival passes are available for 350 PLN at: https://book.mdag.pl/pl/karnety. Detailed information about how the pass works can be found here: https://book.mdag.pl/pl/strona/jak-dziala-twoj-karnet. The pass grants access to a true cinematic feast, featuring over 170 high-quality documentary productions from around the world in this year’s program.
All representatives of the media and film industry are encouraged to apply for media or industry accreditation. To obtain accreditation, please complete the form available at: https://book.mdag.pl/pl/akredytacje. The accreditation fee is 270 PLN. Applicants will be informed about the decision within a few days of submitting the application. All relevant information can be found at: https://book.mdag.pl/pl/strona/jak-dziala-twoja-akredytacja
The 23rd edition of Millennium Docs Against Gravity will take place from May 8 to 17, 2025, in cinemas across seven cities: Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdynia, Poznań, Katowice, Łódź and Bydgoszcz, and online from May 19 to June 1 at mdag.pl. The title sponsor of the festival is Bank Millennium (https://www.bankmillennium.pl/).
