The grand opening gala of the 23rd Millennium Docs Against Gravity is officially behind us! At Multikino Złote Tarasy, we experienced the deeply moving documentary Bez końca (Endless) by Michał Marczak. Welcoming the audience, the director said: "Feature films should look like documentaries, and documentaries should look like feature films," highlighting how documentary cinema can present stories so incredible they seem fictional, despite being entirely true. If you haven’t had the chance to experience this for yourself yet – don’t worry! The next screenings followed by Q&A sessions are coming up on May 8 and 9.
After a few warm, sunny days, the rainy weather has arrived – perfect for hiding away in a cinema seat. The festival team breathed a sigh of relief as we kicked off regular screenings across seven cities, along with inspiring meetings with filmmakers and side events. Over the next 10 days, the press office will be reporting on what’s happened and reminding you of what’s still to come. Join us for this multi-day celebration of documentary film – see you at the cinema!
Julita Gajek, MDAG Press Office
FRIDAY
Friday, May 8 | 6:00 PM | KINOTEKA 7 | WWF Award Ceremony
During the 23rd edition of the Millennium Docs Against Gravity 2026, a special award from WWF Poland will be presented. The "WWF Poland Award – Voice for a Living Planet" is unique because it isn't given to filmmakers, but to the heroes of the films who are actively involved in environmental protection. These winners inspire us to protect our planet and fight for real change.
In 2026, the award goes to Andri Snær Magnason – an Icelandic writer and activist renowned for his climate advocacy. He is also the protagonist of the film On Time and Water, directed by Sara Dosa, which is featured in the festival's Main Competition.
The official award ceremony will take place at Kinoteka at 6:00 PM on May 8, followed by the screening and a conversation with the laureate and the director.
Tickets
Friday, May 8 | 6:00 PM | KINOTEKA 4 | Screening: Everyone on Kenmure Street + Post-film Discussion
On May 13, 2021, in the Pollokshields district of Glasgow – one of Scotland’s most diverse communities – the British Home Office conducted a morning raid on the home of two Sikh men in an attempt to deport them. Moved by the injustice, their neighbors organized a massive protest, flooding Kenmure Street to stop the deportation. The film documents this spontaneous act of civil resistance.
The screening will be followed by a discussion titled: "Together Against Injustice – On Civil Disobedience." We will explore the concept of civil disobedience in Western democratic societies, as well as in authoritarian Belarus. Speakers include Anna Błaszczak-Banasiak, Director of Amnesty International Poland, and Hanna Morskaya, a volunteer at the "Viasna" Human Rights Center (an organization liquidated by the Belarusian regime).
Tickets
Friday, May 8 | 8:45 PM | KINOTEKA 7 | Screening: Money is Everything + Meeting with the Director
James Cox Chambers Jr., better known as Fergie, is one of the wealthiest people in the world. After withdrawing from his family’s corporation with roughly $250 million, he decides to use his fortune in unexpected ways – from founding a commune and supporting protests against the genocide in Palestine to sponsoring a Tunisian football team. The film is an insightful study of the power granted by capital.
Following the screening, director Sinead O’Shea will join us to discuss the filmmaking process.
Tickets
Friday, May 8 | 9:00 PM | KINOTEKA 4 | Screening: Beneath the Surface + Meeting with the Director
What can the Earth’s hidden wonders tell us about the origins and future of humanity? This film is more than just a journey; it’s a spine-tingling experience that reveals how small human life is compared to a world where time is measured in eons and epochs. Three explorers question the future of our species, showcasing the underground as an archive of the Earth’s memory.
After the screening, we will host a meeting with director Rob Petit.
Tickets
Friday, May 8 | 6:30 PM | ATLANTIC A Short Film Competition | BLOCK 1
The first block of the competition features the following films:
"Air Horse One", dir. Lasse Linder
A diary of a celebrity horse. Legacy is one of the world's most successful show-jumping horses. The film follows her long travels in the "business class" of transport planes, delicately revealing both the charm and the dark side of animal fame.
"Mentor", dir. Krzysztof Tomaszewski
Mentor is a young boxer training in Warsaw’s Praga district, completely dedicated to his craft. Quiet and disciplined, he lives a life of silence and focus. His mysterious nature rouses suspicion among his peers at the local club. The time has come for their perceptions to face reality. (Q&A with the director after the screening).
"Hassan", dir. Mohammed Alshareef
Teenage Hassan dreams of only one thing: seeing his family again. The ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip and blocked roads have forced them apart. Created by a Palestinian filmmaker in the heart of the catastrophe, the film shows that when the world is on fire, human connection becomes everything.
Tickets
Head in the Clouds (Bujając w obłokach), dir. Mieszko Chomka
A summer day. While out rollerblading, you stop by a closed-down building. You didn't come to swim – there’s no water in this pool. But what if you filled it with "imaginary" water? If you can imagine a pool full of water, you can imagine so much more. In this imaginary water, you might be daydreaming more than swimming, but you start to feel at home again.
Q&A with the director after the screening.
Bilety
Friday, May 8 | 6:00 PM | KINOMUZEUM (MSN) | Screening: Almost Forever + Meeting with the Directors and Producer
From carefree childhood to turbulent teenage years, this film follows five formative years of a close-knit group of friends in Stockholm. Their bond is tested as they navigate adulthood, friendship, love, and the search for identity. As they rollerblade through the city and talk, they step into a new stage of life.
The screening will be followed by a meeting with directors Lia Hietala and Hanna Reinikainen, and producer Melissa Lindgren.
Tickets
SATURDAY
Saturday, May 9 | 1:45 pm | KINOTEKA 3 | Screening of “Bugboy” by Lucas Paleocrassas + Q&A with the Director
The film follows a story of a shy teenager who, in the wake of his parents' divorce, forms a profound bond with a cricket named Isabella. This interspecies friendship becomes a catalyst for his transformation, proving that even the smallest creatures can help us find our place in the world. His fascination with the insect world opens the door to a journey of trust, friendship, and coming of age. By blending realistic imagery with the metaphorical tone of a fable, the film portrays young Yorgos as he finally confronts his deepest fears.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with director Lucas Paleocrassas.
Saturday, May 9 | 4:00 pm | KINOTEKA 3 | The only screening of the first-ever FIPRESCI Documentary Grand Prix winner, “Fiume o morte!” by Igor Bezinović + Q&A with the director
The film recreates the events of 1919, depicting one of the most extraordinary political experiments of the 20th century. Gabriele D'Annunzio – an Italian poet-warrior – seizes the city of Fiume (modern-day Rijeka, Croatia), beginning a bloody 16-month occupation. This fascinating portrait of D'Annunzio’s ultranationalist views serves as a reflection on how the past continues to shape modern society. As one interviewee aptly observes: "Unfortunately, people like this still exist; we just don't know who they are”. The past comes alive as facts intertwine in Bezinović’s hybrid vision, masterfully blending archival footage and interviews with contemporary reconstructions. On May 7, at the Opening Gala of the 23rd MDAG, the production was awarded the first-ever FIPRESCI Documentary Grand Prix.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with director Igor Bezinović.
Saturday, May 9 | 6:15 pm | KINOTEKA 4 | Screening of the documentary “The Hidden Face Of The Earth” by Arnaud Alain + Q&A with the director
Photographer Dimitri is confronting his profession’s ultimate nightmare: the loss of his sight. In his struggle against a tragic and inevitable fate, his camera becomes both shield and sword. As he wanders the streets of Paris, New York, and beyond, encountering intriguing figures along the way, he begins to tap into the power of his other senses. Paradoxically, his failing vision helps Dimitri uncover what lies hidden in memory and what remains invisible to the eye, sparking fresh reflections on how we perceive reality and human connection. The film is more than just a study of photography; it is a search for the meaning of "the gaze" – even as the sense of sight begins to fade.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with director Arnaud Alain.
Saturday, May 9 | 6:30 pm | KINOTEKA 2 | Screening of the documentary "Almost forver" by Lia Hietala and Hannah Reinikainen + Q&A with the directors and producer
A story following five formative years of a group of close friends in Stockholm. Their bond is put to the test as they navigate the transition into adulthood, grappling with friendship, love, and the search for their own identity. The tight-knit crew traverses the city on rollerblades, lost in conversation. Fleeting gossip, first heartbreaks, and questions regarding consent and cancel culture begin to challenge their relationships. The film captures the hardship and turbulence of growing up, offering a portrait of a generation being shaped by rapid social change.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with directors Lia Hietala and Hannah Reinikainen, and producer Melissa Lindgren.
Saturday, May 9 | 8:45 pm | KINOTEKA 2 | Screening of the documentary "Love-22-Love" by Jeroen Kooijmans + Q&A with the director
Dutch artist Jeroen Kooijmans has been keeping a video diary for over 30 years, documenting his love, art, and struggles with psychotic episodes. Jeroen attempts to overcome his demons through his creative work while simultaneously paying tribute to his wife, Elspeth Diederix. The film is both an intimate memoir, filled with extraordinary video art, and a love letter from Kooijmans to Diederix.
After the screening, there will be an opportunity to participate in a meeting with the director, Jeroen.
Saturday, May 9 | 5:30 pm | KINOMUZEUM | Screening of the documentary "Self-Portrait in 23 Rounds: a Chapter in David Wojnarowicz’s Life, 1989–1991" + screening of the short film "Janine" + discussion
"Self-Portrait in 23 Rounds: A Chapter in David Wojnarowicz's Life, 1989-1991"
A film essay by Marion Scemama profiling David Wojnarowicz – painter, sculptor, photographer, performer, and director of the Cinema of Transgression – one of the leading figures of the 1980s New York art scene. It chronicles the artist's vibrant and intense life, from his childhood to the moments shortly before his death. The film is based on a five-hour interview conducted by Sylvère Lotringer with Wojnarowicz in 1989. Some of the archival materials featured in the film are being presented for the first time
"Janine"
The film explores how white society imposes the category of "race" and how prejudices regarding sexual orientation are expressed. Director Cheryl Dunye plays the protagonist, recalling events and emotions within a narrative framework. "Janine" is not a strictly documentary film – its storytelling style, oscillating between raw facts and fiction, allows the director to subvert definitive categorizations of her persona and identity.
After the screening, there will be a discussion on the work of David Wojnarowicz and Cheryl Dunye and the history of American queer activism. Guest speakers: Dr. Jędrzej Burszta and Dr. Krystyna Mazur.
