The Millennium Docs Against Gravity is created by people. Each story told by directors about extraordinary protagonists becomes a starting point for conversations about the world around us. This year’s poster focuses on the remarkable individuals who share with us the most intimate moments of their lives. Their stories allow us to experience powerful emotions, gain knowledge, and find inspiration. As tradition holds, the premiere of the poster is accompanied by the launch of pass and accreditation sales for the Warsaw edition of MDAG.
The 23rd edition of Millennium Docs Against Gravity (MDAG) will take place from May 8–17, 2025, in cinemas across seven cities: Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdynia, Poznań, Katowice, Łódź, and Bydgoszcz. The festival will also be available online from May 19 to June 1 at mdag.pl.
The Unstoppable Power of Art. Soraya Akhalaghi as the Face of the 23rd MDAG
The face of this year’s poster is Soraya Akhalaghi – the protagonist, cinematographer and co-director of the film “A Fox Under a Pink Moon” (dir. Mehrdad Oskouei and Soraya Akhalaghi), which won the main prize at IDFA in Amsterdam, the world’s largest documentary film festival. Soraya is an Afghan multidisciplinary artist who primarily creates paintings and sculptures. Her life has been marked by numerous hardships. Over the course of five years, she made multiple attempts – referred to among migrants as “games” – to travel from Iran, where she worked as a housemaid, to Europe. None of these attempts succeeded. At the same time, she was trapped in a violent marriage to a husband she had been forced to marry while still a child. “A Fox Under a Pink Moon” follows Soraya in her everyday life. In addition to observational footage filmed by Soraya herself, the film features striking animations based on her drawings. Motifs such as the fox, the pink moon, the clown, the demon and the circus – as Soraya herself explains – have long been integral to the way she tells the story of her own situation. Soraya currently resides in a refugee camp in Germany. In the film, she says that what she longs for most is to find a home where she can create and grow without fear.
The photograph used to create the poster was taken by photographer Kasia Bielska (@kasia.bielska), who collaborates with Papaya.Films and is a graduate of the Cinematography Department at the Łódź Film School.
Festival's graphic design: ILLCAT.studio (@ill.cat).
When we meet Soraya in the film, she is just 16 years old, and her dream is to escape Iran and build a life in Europe. Despite the traumatic experiences she has endured, she possesses remarkable strength — a force that not only helped her pursue her dream of freedom but also allowed her to grow as an artist. Her visit to Warsaw was incredibly important for all of us, and we are delighted that in May the MDAG audience will have the opportunity to hear her story during post-screening discussions, says Mateusz Góra, Head of Communications at MDAG. We are also deeply grateful to Kasia Bielska, who captured in her photograph Soraya’s face emerging from the water — searching for a new beginning, full of strength and energy. This year’s visual identity was once again created by Bartek Bojarczuk (ILLCAT.studio), who ensures that the festival’s visual design reaches the highest international standards every year. Only thanks to the dedication of such outstanding artists was it possible to create a poster that we hope our audience will truly appreciate.
What do we already know about the 23rd edition of MDAG?
The MDAG program will feature the most important documentary films that have had their world premieres at major international festivals such as Venice, Sundance and Berlin. The selection will also include numerous Polish productions and co-productions.
“Closure” (Bez końca), directed by Michał Marczak, premiered in the International Documentary Competition at the Sundance Film Festival. The film follows Daniel, who, after the disappearance of his teenage son, searches the depths of the Vistula River, torn between the fear of a tragic leap and the hope that his son may still be alive.
The Ukrainian-Polish film “Traces”, directed by Alisa Kovalenko and Marysia Nikituk, had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it received the Documentary Panorama Audience Award. The film tells the stories of Ukrainian women who, after experiencing sexual violence (CRSV) and torture during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, begin to speak openly about their experiences.
Meanwhile, “Candidates of Death” (Kandydaci śmierci), directed by Maciej Cuske, premiered in the Main Competition of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. Several years ago, Cuske took his son and two of his friends on a vacation during which they began filming a series of horror movies together. “Candidates of Death” captures their filmmaking adventures and the evolving father-son relationship over more than a decade.
Still from the film “Closure” (Bez końca), directed by Michał Marczak
[Two people carrying metal detectors walk through a shallow river toward the horizon.]
The Short Film Competition of the 23rd MDAG will also showcase outstanding titles from around the world, many of which will have their Polish, international, or world premieres at the festival. Among them is “City of Poets”, directed by Sara Rajaei, winner of the European Film Award for Best Short Film. The selection also includes “The Baddest Speechwriter of All”, directed by Ben Proudfoot and Stephen Curry, which received the Short Film Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival, as well as “Children No More: Were and Are Gone”, directed by Hilla Medalia — films that are also contenders for an Oscar® this weekend.
At the end of 2025, the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), which brings together film journalists from around the world, announced the establishment of the FIPRESCI Documentary Grand Prix. The award will be presented annually starting in 2026, during the opening gala of Millennium Docs Against Gravity. The first winning film will be announced this May.
Most of the new thematic sections of the 23rd MDAG program have also been revealed. The section “In the Name of the Father and the Son” challenges long-standing stereotypes surrounding masculinity by exploring intimacy and examining father–son relationships with sensitivity and courage. Films in the section “All Eyes on Palestine” shed light on the political and social realities faced by Palestinians, portraying the everyday lives of people living in the shadow of conflict and instability. The festival will once again feature the section “Women Changing the World”, whose protagonists break stereotypes, excel in some of the world’s most dangerous sports, create groundbreaking artistic work, fight for social justice, and leave a lasting mark on history. Meanwhile, the section “New York I Love You, But…” offers a cinematic letter from artists to the extraordinary city — at times a love letter, and at others a reflection filled with longing and criticism.
MDAG is for everyone!
MDAG is also intensively expanding its accessibility initiatives. This year, a record number of films will be available with audio description through the Kino Dostępne 2.0 app. In addition, the festival is introducing a range of solutions designed to ensure that everyone – without limitations – can enjoy the magic of documentary cinema. In early April, a dedicated accessibility section will appear on the festival website mdag.pl. It will include information about assistance in reaching screenings, pre-guides to festival venues, content warnings, a psychological support helpline, pick-up points for noise-reducing headphones, and the possibility to reserve tickets for people with disabilities.
Launch of Festival Pass and Accreditation Sales for the 23rd MDAG
The premiere of the poster is accompanied by the launch of sales of festival passes as well as media and industry accreditations for the 23rd edition of MDAG in Warsaw. Sales are available at book.mdag.pl and will continue until May 1 or until passes sell out.
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.
BUY A FESTIVAL PASS
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.
BUY A MEDIA/INDUSTRY ACCREDITATION
All relevant information can be found at: https://book.mdag.pl/pl/strona/jak-dziala-twoja-akredytacja
Photo: Dominika Scheibinger
[Audience seated in a cinema auditorium; on the wall, the name Millennium Docs Against Gravity is illuminated in white.]
Stay Up to Date with the Festival!
We also invite audiences to follow the latest festival announcements across all seven cities. In the coming days, local events will be created on social media, where up-to-date information about the MDAG program, as well as meetings, debates and workshops, will be shared on an ongoing basis.
23. MDAG Warszawa:
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TIKTOK
LINKEDIN
23. MDAG Wrocław:
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
Dolnośląskie Centrum Filmowe (FACEBOOK)
DCF (KINO)
DCF (TIKTOK)
23. MDAG Gdynia:
Gdyńskie Centrum Filmowe (FACEBOOK)
GCF (INSTAGRAM)
23. MDAG Katowice:
SILESIA FILM (INSTAGRAM)
KINO ŚWIATOWID (FACEBOOK)
23. MDAG Poznań:
Kino Muza
Kino Muza (FACEBOOK)
Kino Muza (INSTAGRAM)
23. MDAG Bydgoszcz:
KINO ORZEŁ
23. MDAG Łódź:
EC1 Łódź - Miasto Kultury
EC1 Narodowe Centrum Kultury Filmowej
EC1 (FACEBOOK)
ŁÓDŹ MIASTO FILMU
NCKF (FACEBOOK)
ŁÓDŹ MIASTO FILMU (FACEBOOK)
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/).
