What a night! The most anticipated evening of the 23rd Millennium Docs Against Gravity is already behind us. The awards for this year’s best documentaries were presented in Warsaw, but gala ceremonies in other cities - Katowice and Wrocław - are still ahead.
We invite you to a screening of ,,To Hold a Mountain," which won the Grand Prix – Bank Millennium Award. The screening, followed by a Q&A with directors Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić, takes place today at 6:15 PM.
For the first time in the festival’s history, the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award was presented as part of the Main Competition. It went to the moving ,,A Fox Under the Pink Moon," directed by Mehrdad Oskouei and Soraya Akhlaghi. The upcoming screenings of the film will take place on May 16 and 17.
The final days of the festival are still ahead of us. That doesn’t mean we’re slowing down. We’re looking forward to seeing you at countless events, meetings, and screenings!
Julia Zwidryn, Press Office of the 23rd MDAG
[alttext: four women, whom were on MDAG's posters for the last three years, posing for a photo on a 23rd MDAG standing wall.]
FRIDAY
Friday, May 15 | 6:00 PM | KINOTEKA 2
Screening of "House of Hope" + Q&A with the director
Are optimism and hope in times of occupation an act of courage or a form of resistance? In the Israeli-occupied West Bank town of al-Eizariya, a Waldorf primary school called the House of Hope teaches children about tolerance and peace, showing them that violence is a dead end, no matter how difficult the circumstances. Founded by a Palestinian woman, Manar, and her husband, Milad, the school’s daily routine is deeply intertwined with the harsh political reality outside its walls. The children sing songs of peace and tolerance, yet simultaneously draw tanks and soldiers or talk about family members who have been arrested. Amidst a rising tide of violence and oppression, the school demonstrates that education is not merely about acquiring knowledge – it is a powerful form of resistance.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with director Marjolein Busstra.
TICKETS
[Alt text: A group of children sitting in a circle on the floor, drawing on white sheets of paper under the supervision of an adult man in a cozy room.]
Friday, May 15 | 8:30 PM | KINOTEKA 3
Screening of "Artists in Residence" + Q&A with director Katie Jacobs
In 1959, three New York artists – Lois Dodd, Eleanor Magid, and Louise Kruger – pooled their resources to buy a three-story building on East 2nd Street, carving out a permanent sanctuary for their life and work. Long before the neighborhood became a legendary bohemian hub, these women built an independent community where they could pursue their art free from financial strain and societal expectations. The film explores the strength of their creative vision and the personal sacrifices such a radical choice required.
While Dodd painted, Magid focused on graphic arts, and Kruger sculpted, they also acted as cornerstones of their local community – running a gallery, teaching, and transforming their home into a vital meeting point for the city's artistic avant-garde.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with director Katie Jacobs.
TICKETS
Friday, May 15 | 8:45 PM | KINOTEKA 2
Screening of "Better Go Mad in the Wild" + Q&A with director Miro Remo
Is it possible to spend your entire life in just one place? Twins Franta and Ondra spend their days tending to their chickens and cows – bickering, smoking joints, sleeping under the open sky, and sharing a singular philosophy of life. This is a lyrical tale about what remains when the ties that bind us begin to fray. While Franta longs for freedom and change, Ondra clings to the stability they’ve built together. Their mirrored existence starts to crack – same faces, yet vastly different desires. Set against the quiet embrace of nature, a fragile drama of separation, reconciliation, and perhaps a final reunion unfolds. The film is based on the book by Aleš Palán and Jan Šibík.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with director Miro Remo.
TICKETS
Friday, May 15 | 8:30 PM | Cinema Muranów (Gerard Hall)
Screening of "Supernatural" + Q&A with the director
André Malby – a charismatic shaman, spiritual healer, womanizer, and hedonist – was believed by many to possess supernatural powers. His son, Mathurin "Mathu" Malby, a medical doctor who chose a life of rationality and family stability, shares none of his father's convictions. In fact, he has shaped his entire existence to be his father’s polar opposite.
This carefully constructed balance begins to unravel when Anna, a famous Spanish actress and devoted follower of Malby, convinces Mathu that André saved her life through telepathy. This encounter forces Mathu to confront his father's legacy, deep-seated family trauma, and his own worldview, pulling him into a dialogue where faith, magic, and science collide. Filmed over several years, the movie transcends traditional documentary boundaries, shifting between detached observation and intimate participation. It poses a fundamental question: how far are we willing to go to believe in the invisible, and where exactly is the line between reality and faith?
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with director Ventura Durall.
TICKETS
Friday, May 15 | 6:00 PM | Cinema Atlantic (Hall A)
Screening of "Collapse" + Q&A with director Anat Even
Director Anat Even looks into the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, capturing its devastating impact following the events of October 7, 2023. Shortly after the tragedy, she returns to Kibbutz Nir Oz – her childhood home – which was left in total ruin. Over the course of two years, she films the charred remains and the war-ravaged landscape, all while the destruction of the Gaza Strip unfolds just beyond the fence.
The film captures more than just physical devastation; it reveals the emotional scars of violence – anger, grief, dehumanization, and a profound sense of helplessness. By weaving together archival footage and witness testimonies, Even explores the complex ties between Israel and Gaza, touching on themes of identity, memory, and responsibility. It is a critical and deeply reflective portrait of war and its effect on the human soul, refusing to turn away from difficult questions or the visceral imagery of the ongoing conflict.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with director Anat Even.
TICKETS
[Alt text: A green tractor with a trailer works in a field while in the distance a tall column of black smoke rises above the city skyline.]
Friday, May 15 | 8:15 PM | Cinema Atlantic (Hall A)
Screening of "My Word Against Mine" + Q&A with Dirk Corstens
One in ten people hears voices. This film profiles five individuals living with this experience – some hearing just one voice, others as many as nineteen. Some voices act as protectors, while others seek to harm. Off-camera, a psychiatrist engages them in deep conversations: Who are these people, and what do their voices truly want?
We witness a revolutionary therapeutic approach that allows patients to find acceptance for their internal reality. This journey isn't easy; over several sessions, the film reveals the profound traumas directly linked to the voices' emergence. Above all, the documentary paints a fascinating group portrait of both the participants and their voices, offering a rare glimpse into the extraordinary landscape of the human mind.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the film’s subject, Dirk Corstens.
TICKETS
SATURDAY
Saturday, May 16 | 1:30 PM | KINOTEKA 4
Screening of ,"A Century in Sound" + Vinyl DJ Set
Hidden within vibrant Tokyo are numerous ongaku kissa - music cafes, each with its own specialty, ranging from classical music to jazz and Japanese rock. The film tells the story of three different venues united by a culture of deep listening. These are spaces where one can enter, sit down, and fully surrender to the music while sipping coffee, reading a newspaper, or simply gazing at the surroundings. Ongaku kissa are places of cultural encounters and profound respect for the music one loves. The film introduces the owners, their stories, and the cats that accompany the daily life of the cafes.
TICKETS
After the screening, we invite you to a vinyl DJ set on the Kinoteka stairs. Admission is free!
Saturday, May 16 | 6:45 PM | KINOTEKA 3
Screening of "Yo (Love Is a Rebellious Bird)"
Following the death of her friend, Anna spends ten years obsessively recreating her home at a 1:3 scale for a puppet bearing the same name. When they met, Yo was 73 and Anna was only 24 - despite the age gap, they formed a deep bond that became the foundation of their relationship over time. By creating this miniature space, Anna builds a world where stories can endure and their closeness can continue to evolve. The film weaves the intimate reality of Yo’s final year with a creative reinterpretation of her dramatic experiences. Blurring the lines between memory, time, and imagination, the film showcases the power of artistic creation as a way of experiencing and sharing grief and love.
TICKETS
The film is available with Audio Description (AD) and Polish voice-over. There will also be screenings with Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH). A full list of events and more information can be found under the "Accessibility" tab.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us:
SMS / Tel: +48 579 754 101
Email: julia@againstgravity.pl
Saturday, May 16 | 6:45 PM | ILUZJON STOLICA FINA Presents: Documentaries of Transitional Times
TICKETS
In 2025, the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute (FINA) initiated the Polish Film Heritage List. Expanded annually, the list includes films pivotal to the history and development of Polish cinema and audiovisual arts. Documentaries are a vital part of this collection. We invite you to a screening of three titles featured on the list, followed by a discussion.
"People from the Empty Area", dir. Kazimierz Karabasz, Władysław Ślesicki
A group of seventeen-year-olds meets daily by the "Four Sleeping Soldiers" monument in Praga. They have bored faces; they talk and smoke cigarettes. They spend most of the day on the streets of Warsaw, leaning against posts and fences, or they head to the Praga Port, out of the reach of the militia. They are united by boredom and a lack of prospects. They chase away the stagnation with alcohol, dancing in cramped apartments, and trips to the cinema.
"Talking Heads", dir. Krzysztof Kieślowski
[altext: a black and white photo of a young man in a light-colored sweater.]
In "Talking Heads," Poles answer questions about who they are, what matters most to them, and what they desire. The responses are arranged chronologically: starting with a one-year-old child who cannot yet answer, and ending with a hundred-year-old woman who, in turn, cannot quite hear what she is being asked. This modestly produced film has earned a permanent place in the history of Polish cinema and popular culture.
"Bara Bara", dir. Maria Zmarz-Koczanowicz, Michał Arabudzki
Poland during the early transformation era, where excitement for the West blends with an identity crisis, the promise of social mobility meets the experience of economic fragility, and a newly achieved common goal quickly gives way to hierarchy and stratification. For the creators of "Bara Bara," disco polo serves as the focal point of this reality. By tracking how it permeates various spaces—from stadium bazaars to detention centers, children's fan clubs, and political rallies—the documentarians capture a musical phenomenon at the peak of its popularity.
Saturday, May 16 | 8:45 PM | MURANÓW GERARD Screening of ,,Joybubbles" + Q&A with the Director
A portrait of the life of Joe Engressia - a brilliant boy, blind from birth, who discovered he could control the global telephone system by whistling a "magic" tone. Yearning for connection, he turned his passion for the telephone into a way of engaging with the world. As one of the first "phone phreaks" - proto-hackers using technology to bypass the monopoly of the global telecommunications network - he unconsciously paved the way for a subculture that continues to shape the future of hacking and technology. Defying a paternalistic society, he fulfilled his dream of an independent life without ever giving up on play.
TICKETS
The screening will be followed by a meeting with director Rachael J. Morrison.
The film is available with Audio Description (AD) and Polish voice-over. A full list of events and more information can be found under the "Accessibility" tab.
Contact:
SMS / Tel: +48 579 754 101
Email: julia@againstgravity.pl
[alttext: a man holding two stationary telephones next to his ears.]
Saturday, May 16 | 8:45 PM | MURANÓW GERARD
Screening of ,"The Waldheim Waltz" + Q&A with the Director
TICKETS
"No to Waldheim!" - these cries of protest against the election of Kurt Waldheim as President of Austria could be heard in the center of Vienna in 1986. The UN Secretary-General with a dark Nazi past made headlines worldwide, largely because he denied it. It all began during the 1986 Austrian presidential campaign when Waldheim's previously hidden membership in the Nazi SA organization and his military service from 1943-1944 were revealed. However, he was never found guilty of any war crimes. The film takes a behind-the-scenes look at Waldheim's presidential campaign.
The 23rd edition of MDAG will take place from May 8 to 17, 2026, in cinemas in Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdynia, Poznań, Katowice, Bydgoszcz, and Łódź, and from May 19 to June 1 online at mdag.pl! The titular sponsor of the event is Bank Millennium (https://www.bankmillennium.pl/).
