The most anticipated evening of the 23rd edition of Millennium Docs Against Gravity is now behind us. The awards for the best documentary films have been presented. On May 14, the official MDAG Awards Ceremony took place at the Dramatic Theatre in Warsaw.
The Grand Prix – Bank Millennium Award went to “To Hold a Mountain”, directed by Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić.
[alttext: A group photo of jurors, winners and organisers of the festival at the 23rd MDAG Awards Ceremony.]
MAIN COMPETITION
In the Main Competition, 12 documentary films from around the world competed for the Grand Prix – Bank Millennium Award, the FIPRESCI Award, the Best Cinematography Award and the Best Editing Award in Warsaw, as well as local awards in Wrocław, Katowice, Gdynia, Poznań and Bydgoszcz.
The Mayor of Gdynia Award went to the film “Mariinka”, directed by Pieter-Jan de Pue. The City of Poznań Freedom Award, was awarded also to the “Mariinka” dir. Pieter-Jan de Pue, and the BYDGOSZCZ ART.DOC AWARD was presented to “Bugboy”, directed by Lucas Paleocrassas. On May 15, we will learn the winners of the Lower Silesia Grand Prix (Wrocław) and the Silesian Audience Award (Katowice).
WARSAW
MAIN COMPETITION. GRAND PRIX – BANK MILLENNIUM AWARD
In the Main Competition of the 23rd Millennium Docs Against Gravity, 12 films competed for the Grand Prix – Bank Millennium Award worth €10,000. The winner was selected by a jury composed of Talal Derki, Lea Glob and Jessica Hargrave.
Winner: “To Hold a Mountain”, dir. Biljana Tutorov, Petar Glomazić
[alttext: mother holding her daughter with care.]
Justification: The film takes us into a magical world – a chosen solitude shared between an aunt and her niece, redrawing for us the beauty of family bonds within an enchanting natural landscape and rural tradition filled with love and patience. The same patience is shown by the filmmakers themselves, as they quietly observed and captured every subtle detail of a story that speaks to the reunion of humanity with nature, a nuanced portrayal of sisterhood, adolescence, and the profound, generative role that nature and family hold in shaping who we are.
Special Mention: “A Fox Under a Pink Moon”, dir. Mehrdad Oskouei, Soraya Akhlaghi
Justification: For a beautiful portrait of a young female Afghani artist that gave us a deeper understanding of hope, resistance and survival.
MAIN COMPETITION. BEST EDITING AWARD
In addition to the Main Competition’s main award, the jury presented the Best Editing Award for the first time. The winner was selected from among the editors of the films nominated in the Main Competition. The award amounts to €2,000.
Winner: “Time and Water”, dir. Sara Dosa, editing: Erin Casper, Jocelyne Chaput, Mark Harrison
[alttext: a man sitting on a cliff overlooking a mountain.]
Justification: An emotionally resonant message to the future, shaping memories built by eyes, water and stone into a visual form. Interweaving layers of family heritage and climate history, the film presents glaciers as both forms and characters, shaped by time and by humanity, laced with persistent hope for the power of change.
MAIN COMPETITION. BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD
The Best Cinematography Award went to the cinematographer of one of the films in the Main Competition. The award amounts to €2,000.
Winner: “Closure”, dir. Michał Marczak, cinematography: Michał Marczak
[alttext: a man standing above a campfire.]
Justification: Balanced between an expansive river panorama and the inner layers of a grieving father’s mind, the visuals of this film transmit a message tying the intimacy of the father’s beliefs to the vastness of nature and its power.
MAIN COMPETITION. FIPRESCI AWARD
For the first time at MDAG, the award of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) was presented. A three-person jury composed of critics Bartolomé Armentano, Igor Anjelkov and Sylwia Szostak selected the winner from among the films nominated in the Main Competition.
Winner: “A Fox Under a Pink Moon”, dir. Mehrdad Oskouei, Soraya Akhlaghi
[alttext: a woman's face covered with a transparent blue cloth.]
Justification: The film awarded today reminds us of one of the most important functions of documentary cinema – its ability to respond to current issues, ask difficult questions, and compel us to reflect on the world we live in. In recent months, there has been a great deal of discussion about the relationship between politics and cinema. During the opening gala of Millennium Docs Against Gravity, the festival’s artistic director emphasized that documentary cinema has every right to speak about contemporary issues even if some choose to interpret this as a political statement. A similar sentiment was expressed at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, where jury president Park Chan-wook argued that film art cannot be separated from politics and the contemporary reality in which cinema is created. The awarded film fits perfectly into this debate. It does not shy away from its political context, while at the same time never losing sight of the individual – their emotions, dignity, and right to fight for their own life. It is precisely in this combination that the film’s greatest strength lies. Here, cinema becomes not only a testimony to contemporary reality, but also a space for fostering empathy and recognizing the need for change. This is a story that people should hear today especially strongly – also here in Poland, at a moment when refugee issues remain one of the key social and political topics. The film reminds us that behind debates, statistics, and headlines, there are always real people and their lived experiences. We present this award for courage, humanism, and the extraordinary power of cinematic language. For cinema that does not merely describe the world, but genuinely helps us understand it better.
LOCAL AWARDS IN THE MAIN COMPETITION
THE MAYOR OF GDYNIA AWARD
In the Pomerania region, the results of the Mayor of Gdynia competition were announced. The prize worth 15,000 PLN was awarded to a winner selected from the twelve nominees of the Main Competition for the Grand Prix – Bank Millennium Award. The jury consisted of: Katarzyna Klimkiewicz, Zygmunt Miłoszewski, and Urszula Morga.
Winner: “Mariinka”, dir. Pieter-Jan de Pue
[alttext: a woman sitting on top of a destroyed car; she is wearing army uniform.]
Justification: Each of the competition documentaries moved us deeply, but this one resonated with us in a particularly profound way. It is a portrayal of family relationships reminiscent of an ancient tragedy. A coming-of-age story unfolding in the shadow of catastrophe. Characters, each of whom could be the subject of an entire novel. A remarkable effort to capture a decade spent on the front line. The title of the film – the name of the town that connects its characters – sounds almost like a person’s name. And rightly so, because it reminds us that war is not something distant, happening somewhere else or to someone else. It happens to us.
THE CITY OF POZNAŃ FREEDOM AWARD
A three-person jury in Poznań composed of Lidia Duda, Piotr Jacoń and Aleksandra Hromada presented the City of Poznań Freedom Award to the film that most faithfully defends the foundations of freedom. The laureate received €3,000.
Winner: “Mariinka”, dir. Pieter-Jan de Pue
[alttext: a woman sitting on top of a destroyed car; she is wearing army uniform.]
Justification: For a cinematic work that transcends mainstream cinema. The story of two brothers takes us not only to the opposing sides of the war – Ukrainian and Russian – but also to the United States, where we see that the cruelty of war, and thus the deprivation of freedom and dignity, can begin on a comfortable sofa, with a hunter’s rifle at one’s side.
Special Mention: “Two Mountains Weighing Down My Chest”, dir. Viv Li
Justification: For a difficult, and at times amusing, user’s guide to freedom. A freedom that offers the possibility of choice and of constantly asking questions, but at the same time deprives us of certainty in the correctness of the answers – an experience that seems familiar to many people living today among those privileged enough to enjoy the taste of freedom.
BYDGOSZCZ ART.DOC AWARD
For the eighth time, the ART.DOC AWARD was presented in Bydgoszcz. The winner was selected by a local three-person jury composed of Mariola Woch, Jakub Elwertowski and Marcin Kundera.
Winner: “Bugboy”, dir. Lucas Paleocrassas
[alttext: a cricket sits on the edge of a drink held by a man.]
Justification: “Bugboy” is an exceptionally timely and subtle film that addresses, with great sensitivity, the issues defining the everyday lives of today’s teenagers. Yorgos’s story is not only a tale of family crisis, but above all a universal study of emerging from isolation in a world that often seems to ignore us or judge us through the lens of weakness. The protagonist, struggling with a visual impairment and the aftermath of his parents’ divorce, becomes the embodiment of the modern “outsider”. In the age of social media, where any “difference” can become a reason for ridicule, the character of Yorgos makes us realise how easily a young person can feel excluded. The filmmakers deliberately guide the viewer toward a sense of hope, suggesting that adversity can be overcome. A key element here is the boy’s relationship with a grasshopper named Isabella. It is a beautiful and profound metaphor for building trust in a world where genuine connection is a scarce commodity. For today’s youth, who often retreat into online bubbles, Yorgos’s passion becomes a form of self-therapy and a tool for regaining his own voice. “Bugboy” is an inspiring portrait of coming of age, showing that courage does not lie in the absence of fear of rejection, but in embracing a world that at first glance seems hostile.
Honorary Mention of the Regional Bar Council in Bydgoszcz for the Best Production Addressing Human Rights Issues: “Nuisance Bear”, dir. Gabriela Osio Vanden, Jack Weisman
Justification: The award is presented to the filmmakers for their unique portrayal of the inseparable bond between human rights and the rights of nature. The film uncompromisingly exposes the consequences of the systemic degradation of the culture and territory of the indigenous Inuit people. The filmmakers demonstrate that the stripping away of identity breeds chaos. By giving a voice to the Inuit narrator, the film emphasises the agency of the indigenous peoples of the Arctic. It draws attention to how their traditional knowledge and way of perceiving nature are often marginalised by global tourism. The forced assimilation of the Inuit people was undoubtedly a form of cultural genocide that destroyed the age-old order, including their coexistence with nature. The film reminds us that the marginalisation of one social group in favour of another is a fundamental violation of human rights. Any attempt, therefore, to erase a national identity or exterminate a society simply because its existence is inconvenient to the more powerful constitutes an assault on the fundamental sense of human dignity. “Nuisance Bear” is a film about survival. It is a warning that if we do not respect boundaries – both cultural and natural – we will become a “trouble” for the planet, which will have nothing left to offer us. The fight for human rights cannot, after all, take place in isolation from concern for the environment.
POLISH COMPETITION
BEST POLISH FILM AWARD
10 titles qualified for this year’s edition of the competition. The jury composed of Joanna Łapińska, Raul Niño Zambrano, and Ola Staszel announced the winning film. The winner received a prize of €4,000.
Winner: “Candidates of Death”, dir. Maciej Cuske
[alttext: a movie crew and people in white uniforms in a volcanic scenery.]
Justification: For a thrilling cinematic roller coaster; a tender yet hellishly funny portrait of growing up, friendship and intimacy in which cheerfulness mixes with fears that can be just as terrifying as horror movie zombies.
Special Mention: “Traces”, dir. Alisa Kovalenko, Marysia Nikitiuk
Justification: For a profoundly moving work in which the directors masterfully balances the devastating reality of sexual violence in war with a collective portrait of resilience.
SMAKJAM AWARD FOR BEST PRODUCTION IN THE POLISH FILM
In addition to the Best Polish Film Award, the Polish Competition also presented the Best Production Award funded by Smakjam studio, specializing in visual and sound post-production. The award amounts to €3,333 or post-production services of equivalent value.
Winner: “Traces”, dir. Alisa Kovalenko, Marysia Nikitiuk production: Olha Bregman, Natalia Libet, Violetta Kamińska, Izabela Wójcik, Dariusz Jabłoński
[alttext: an older woman standing next to a big hole in a building.]
Justification: We have decided to honour a documentary film that serves as a powerful reminder of the potential of documentary cinema – a cinema that speaks out for victims, fights for justice, and builds a sense of community. With extraordinary sensitivity and empathy, the filmmakers portray the experiences of women affected by violence at the hands of Russian aggressors. At the same time, the film is also a moving story of solidarity, showing how human connection can help people survive the trauma of war.
THE ARTHOUSE CINEMA ASSOCIATION AWARD IN THE POLISH COMPETITION
The Arthouse Cinema Association Award in the Polish Competition consists of support for the promotional campaign of the winning film in cinemas worth 10,000 PLN. The jury included Agnieszka Noskowska, Dagmara Pawłowska, and Grzegorz Smędek.
Winner: “Closure”, dir. Michał Marczak
[alttext: a man standing next to a campfire.]
Justification: For an extraordinary combination of form and content. Both the subject matter tackled by the director – highly relevant from a contemporary perspective – and the way it is presented deserve recognition and appreciation. The film approaches the issue of attentiveness to young people coming of age with remarkable sensitivity and thoughtfulness. At the same time, the film is technically accomplished on every level. The cinematography, camerawork, and soundtrack work together seamlessly, creating a coherent and carefully crafted whole.
Special Mention: “Bigger Picture”, dir. Mikołaj Janik
Justification: Unfortunately, we were unable to present any additional awards this year. However, we would still like to draw the audience’s attention to one particular film and give it special recognition. Through its creative sense of disorientation – elevated further by an outstanding musical score – the film opens up a new dimension and ultimately leaves viewers with a hopeful perspective on the search for meaning and direction, and on the possibility of finding both.
BEST SHORT FILM AWARD
22 films from around the world competed for the Best Short Film Award worth €2,000. This year’s jury consisted of Nebojša Slijepčević, Anas Sareen, and Joanna Baranowska. The jury has unanimously decided to award two emerging female filmmakers, whose works offer a rare blend of exciting formal choices and sharp political commentary.
Winner: “How to catch a Butterfly?”, dir. Kiriko Mechanicus
[alttext: a butterfly pinned to a paper in a goblet.]
Justification: By interrogating the racial fetiches that pin Asian women into fantasies of servility, this film rejects toxic gender and race relations and offers instead a punk feminist expression of personhood across generations. Delivered with bold cinematic flair, its intelligence and spirit convinced us instantly.
Special Mention: “Guided Tour”, dir. Alba Jaramillo
Justification: A post-colonial fable with a unique visual style, this film embarked us on a journey that was both enchanting and amusing, twisting and turning between the realms of the human and the natural, yet never losing its acute political consciousness.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL POLAND AWARD
The Amnesty International Poland Award worth 3,000 PLN was presented this year. Twelve titles competed for the award. The jury consisted of Margje de Koning, Anna Błaszczak-Banasiak, and Anne Marie Borsboom.
Winner: “A Fox Under a Pink Moon”, dir. Mehrdad Oskouei, Soraya Akhlaghi
[alttext: a woman’s face covered with blue and transparent material.]
Justification: Over the past few days, outstanding filmmakers have taken us on an unforgettable journey – from the civil war in Congo, through Georgia as seen through the eyes of LGBT people, to the razed-to-the-ground Gaza, and finally to the United States, which, before our very eyes, is turning its back on one of humanity’s greatest achievements: human rights guaranteed to each and every one of us, regardless of who we are or where we come from. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the organisers of Millennium Docs Against Gravity for this journey, as every film we watched earned its rightful place at this festival. We have decided to award the main prize to the film that offers an answer to the most pressing questions of our time: What are they doing here?, What do they want from us, Why didn’t they stay in their own countries? However, not everyone will like the answer it provides, because instead of sensational visions of foreigners seeking to destroy and conquer Europe, it presents something much simpler – the need to survive. Year after year, the filmmaker meticulously documents the authenticity of this motivation, using art as the most creative and compelling form of expression. This is a film about the violence and humiliation experienced by millions of women in every corner of the world. It is a portrait of a determination that is difficult to fathom – one that drives people to risk their lives in the hope of living better ones.
CHOPIN’S NOSE AWARD
This year’s festival also presented the Chopin’s Nose Award and €2,000 for the best film about music and art. Jury: Eliza Kącka, Lidia Popiel, Bartek Wąsik.
Winner: “Crocodile”, dir. Pietra Brettkelly, The Critics
[alttext: ufo flying over a man’s head.]
Justification: All the films we watched affirmed the quest for freedom and reaffirmed the universal – simply human – need for art. We were captivated by the intimate and subtle portrayals of relationships with literature, music, and other people. We witnessed powerful and dramatic images of a community capable of creating both great beauty and great misery. But one film in particular convinced us that art is a strategy for the survival of the human race. That even in an African city, without resources or institutional support, it is possible to create something from nothing. To unleash the powers of imagination, intuition, and creation. Superpowers! In this poignant documentary, art proves to be a refuge, a source of meaning, and a guarantor of identity. And for whom? For a group of teenagers who draw us into their world. Teenagers who could teach us all a lesson in maturity. The collective “The Critics” has shown that art can be a way of life. And that it opens the door to freedom.
GREEN WARSAW AWARD
During this year’s edition of Millennium Docs Against Gravity, the Green Warsaw Award worth 15,000 PLN was once again presented for the best film on environmental issues. The award is funded by the City of Warsaw. The Green Warsaw Award is accompanied by the film section Climate for Change. Jury: Salomé Jashi, Leszek Drogosz, Orina Krajewska.
Winner: “Whispers in the Woods”, dir. Vincent Munier
[alttext: grandfather sitting in a forest with his grandson.]
Justification: In this film, we are invited to follow in the footsteps of three protagonists as they lead us into a fairy tale. With profound respect and patience, through love and dedication, a hidden life unfolds in front of us. We are drawn into the heart of dense woods where time, as we know it, pauses. In this cinematic silence, we begin to see. Guided by three generations – grandfather, father, and son – the audience in the cinema becomes one with nature and its most discreet inhabitants. Through careful observation and meticulous craft, the film reveals a life cycle tucked away from humanity, yet deeply affected by it. Realised through splendid camera and sound work, this is a film for all generations – a work that restores our hope in humanity.
Special Mention: “Sentient”, dir. Tony Jones
Justification: In contrast to the extraordinary sensitivity and respect for nature and life in its most subtle forms, unimaginable suffering takes place every day, often invisible to us. Yet who, if not us, should stand up loudly as advocates for beings imprisoned in laboratories? For taking on a subject so often overlooked, despite the fact that it concerns all of us, and for the courage to show this suffering openly and without compromise, we have decided to award a Special Mention to Sentient by Tony Jones.
FIRST APPEARANCE AWARD
10 documentary debuts competed for the €2,000 First Appearance Award funded by Visa. The award was presented by an intergenerational jury composed of Oliwia Maciejewska, Antoni Banach, Stanisław Biele, Elżbieta Zawadzka, Witosława Giedrojć, and Halina Rudzka. “The debut films were judged by a jury representing different generations. Despite the age gap, however, our opinions did not differ greatly. We had a difficult task: choosing the best debut film from among ten entries. Given the challenge, we also decided to award a special mention.” the jury stated.
Winner: “Confessions of a Mole”, dir. Mo Tan
[alttext: a woman’s face surrounded with blue wire-like thing.]
Justification: First prize goes to the film that delighted us with its sincerity, avant-garde form, fantastic animation, and above all, its authentic style.
Special Mention: “Joybubbles”, dir. Rachael J. Morrison
Justification: Our jury would like to honour a remarkable, highly optimistic, and hopeful biographical film. We were captivated by its positive tone, which resonated throughout the entire story.
“NEWSWEEK PSYCHOLOGIA” AWARD FOR THE BEST FILM ON PSYCHOLOGY
The editorial team of Newsweek Psychologia once again presented its Award for the Best Film on Psychology, worth €1,000. Jury: Joanna Gutral, Małgorzata Osowiecka-Szczygieł, Małgorzata Mieczyńska, Dellfina Dellart, Iwona Zabielska-Stadnik. The competition films explored a wide range of emotions and the protagonists’ struggles for a better tomorrow and the right to be themselves. The award honors the story that most accurately captures the complex nature of contemporary life.
Winner: “My Word Against Mine”, dir. Maasja Ooms
[alttext: a woman’s face covered with a light from projector.]
Justification: The human mind is astonishing. Hidden within a grey, twisted and convoluted mass, it is the most powerful tool for conquering the world. It is the keeper of our secrets, of our desired and undesired thoughts, of our wonderful and difficult experiences. It is here that so many beautiful unknowns lie hidden. So many mysteries to unravel. And our demons, too. There is a film that, for 113 minutes, takes us precisely there, deep into the human mind, keeps us on the edge of our seats, and won’t let us take our eyes off the faces, because the camera captures everything we’d hate to miss: what a person feels as they grapple with their extraordinary experience, what changes within them when, with a therapist as their guide, they can peer into the recesses of their mind, face their demons, and understand – why I am like this. We wish to honour this film for its masterful patience in filming an extraordinary therapeutic process, capturing its meaning and significance for those grappling with their own minds. For making us aware of the authentic role of the therapist-guide at a time when pop-psychology online counsellors are gaining ever greater authority. For the not only moving but also genuinely psychoeducational dimension of this message.
COMPETITIONS STILL UNDERWAY
This is not the end of our competitions. Until May 17, audience voting is still ongoing for the Warsaw Documentary Award (Audience Award) and the Onet Big Screen Doc Award, whose winner will be chosen by viewers from four major cities: Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdynia, and Poznań. The results of these votes will be announced after the end of the theatrical part of MDAG. After the online edition of the festival, on June 3, the Online Audience Award will be announced and presented to the most popular film of the second part of the 23rd MDAG.
ADDITIONAL AWARDS PRESENTED DURING THE GALA IN GDYNIA
THE ETNOMATOGRAF AWARD
Winner: “Daughters of the Forest”, dir. Otilia Portillo Padua
Justification: The jury wished to honour a film distinguished by its exceptionally sensitive portrayal of the authentic human condition. The jury’s deliberations were exceptionally intense, as the competition's standards exceeded all expectations. Each of the nominated films paid tribute to indigenous practices, knowledge, and linguistic identity. They portrayed lives lived in harmony with nature, belief systems, and passion. These were stories marked by attentiveness and calm, featuring vivid protagonists with a strong sense of agency and autonomy. Nevertheless, there can be only one winner. For its multi-generational narrative, its herstory perspective, its elevation of indigenous knowledge and integration into academic discourse, its respect for the past, and its fusion of magic and authenticity, the ETNOMATOGRAF Award goes to Otilia Portillo Padua for the film “Daughters of the Forest”. The film was created with respect for, and in collaboration with, the indigenous Zapotec community. We were captivated by the poetic nature of this cinematic essay, its portrayal of both visible and invisible worlds, and its depiction of the coexistence of human and non-human life.
THE KOMPAS AWARD PRESENTED BY THE MUSEUM OF EMIGRATION IN GDYNIA
Winner: “A Fox Under a Pink Moon”, dir. Mehrdad Oskouei, Soraya Akhlaghi
Justification: The award-winning film movingly depicts the long struggle of 16-year-old Soraya Akhlaghi to find herself. The film presents both the young protagonist’s daily life, her dilemmas, reflections, and fears, and her attempts to escape from Iran. Soraya flees the oppression and violence of her husband while pursuing her desire for the freedom to make her own choices. “A Fox Under a Pink Moon” portrays the experience of crossing borders as a turning point in the protagonist’s life – both physically and emotionally – in a truly unique way. Giving the floor exclusively to Soraya and constructing the entire film from material in her personal archive is a unique example of portraying migration from the migrant’s own perspective – a perspective still too rarely present in cinema and public debate. As a result, migration is perceived as a complex, multidimensional process: on the one hand, arising from the need to protect fundamental human rights; on the other, serving as a path of inner transformation and a search for one’s own place in the world.
ALL ABOUT FREEDOM FESTIVAL AWARD
Winner: “The Librarians”, dir. Kim A. Snyder
Justification: The jury unanimously awards the film, which, in a moving and highly topical way, demonstrates the immense value of knowledge, education, and commitment to truth in a world shaped by manipulation and fake news – a world in which the foundations of science are increasingly undermined and uncomfortable content is erased from collective memory. The film offers insight into the diverse perspectives of those engaged in meticulous, often risky work in the service of dialogue, access to knowledge, and community-building in times of chaos and division. Here, the library becomes a place of diversity, individuality, and openness – a space where everyone can find their place. We also identify with the spirit of social cooperation, civic activism, and solidarity portrayed in the film – solidarity built through everyday civic engagement and through the strength of women who consistently defend their principles, freedom of thought, and the right to education.
The All About Freedom Festival Award, funded by the European Solidarity Centre, goes to a film that is especially important because, as an institution dedicated to memory and history, we cannot accept its distortion or dangerous erasure. The director has created a story of courage, responsibility, and solidarity, reminding viewers that we need people who safeguard the light of knowledge and truth.
LIST OF ALL AWARDS OF THE 23RD MDAG:
Main Competition. Bank Millennium Award – Grand Prix: “To Hold a Mountain”, dir. Biljana Tutorov, Petar Glomazić
Special Mention: “A Fox Under a Pink Moon”, dir. Mehrdad Oskouei, Soraya Akhlaghi
Main Competition. Best Cinematography Award: “Closure”, dir. Michał Marczak, cinematography: Michał Marczak
Main Competition. Best Editing Award: “Time and Water”, dir. Sara Dosa, editing: Erin Casper, Jocelyne Chaput, Mark Harrison
Main Competition. FIPRESCI Award: “A Fox Under a Pink Moon”, dir. Mehrdad Oskouei, Soraya Akhlaghi
Main Competition in Gdynia. The Mayor of Gdynia Award: “Mariinka”, dir. Pieter-Jan de Pue
Main Competition in Poznań. The City of Poznań Freedom Award: “Mariinka”, dir. Pieter-Jan de Pue
Special Mention: “Two Mountains Weighing Down My Chest” , dir. Viv Li
Main Competition in Bydgoszcz. BYDGOSZCZ ART.DOC AWARD: “Bugboy”, dir. Lucas Paleocrassas
Honorary Mention of the Regional Bar Council in Bydgoszcz for the Best Production Addressing Human Rights Issues: “Nuisance Bear”, dir. Gabriela Osio Vanden, Jack Weisman
Best Polish Film Award: “Candidates of Death”, dir. Maciej Cuske
Special Mention: “Traces”, dir. Alisa Kovalenko, Marysia Nikitiuk
Smakjam Award for the Best Production in a Polish Film: “Traces”, dir. Alisa Kovalenko, Marysia Nikitiuk; producers: Dariusz Jabłoński, Izabela Wójcik, Olha Bregman, Natalia Libet, Violetta Kamińska
The Arthouse Cinema Association Award in the Polish Competition: “Closure”, dir. Michał Marczak
Special Mention: “Bigger Picture”, dir. Mikołaj Janik
Best Short Film Award: “How to catch a Butterfly?”, dir. Kiriko Mechanicus
Special Mention: “Guided Tour”, dir. Alba Jaramillo
First Appearance Award: “Confessions of a Mole”, dir. Mo Tan
Special Mention: “Joybubbles”, dir. Rachael J. Morrison
Green Warsaw Award: “Whispers in the Woods”, dir. Vincent Munier
Special Mention: “Sentient”, dir. Tony Jones
Chopin’s Nose Award: “Crocodile”, dir. Pietra Brettkelly, The Critics
“Newsweek Psychologia” Award for the Best Film on Psychological Themes: “My Word Against Mine”, dir. Maasja Ooms
Amnesty International Poland Award: “A Fox Under a Pink Moon”, dir. Mehrdad Oskouei, Soraya Akhlaghi
OTHER AWARDS PRESENTED DURING THE GALA IN GDYNIA:
ETNOMATOGRAF Award: “Daughters of the Forest”, dir. Otilia Portillo Padua
All About Freedom Festival Award: “The Librarians”, dir. Kim A. Snyder
Gdynia Emigration Museum Compass Award: “A Fox Under a Pink Moon”, dir. Mehrdad Oskouei, Soraya Akhlaghi
AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED ON MAY 15 IN KATOWICE AND WROCŁAW:
Lower Silesia Grand Prix (Wrocław)
Silesian Audience Award (Katowice)
Green Energy Competition – The Mayor of Katowice Award
AUDIENCE AWARDS TO BE ANNOUNCED AFTER THE FESTIVAL:
Audience Award (Warsaw Documentary Award)
Onet Big Screen Doc
The 23rd edition of Millennium Docs Against Gravity takes place from May 8–17 in seven cities (Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdynia, Poznań, Katowice, Łódź, and Bydgoszcz), followed by the online edition from May 19 to June 1 at mdag.pl. The title sponsor of the event is Bank Millennium.
