We're in for a real celebration of documentary filmmaking, a tradition that regular festivalgoers readily associate with the three main competitions of Millennium Docs Against Gravity: the Grand Prix, the Best Polish Film, and the Best Short Film competitions.

The Grand Prix Award will feature 12 films vying for the Grand Prix. Among them: 2000 Metres to Andriyivka  (dir. Mstyslav Chernov) - a film that plunges viewers right into the frontlines of the war in Ukraine through footage captured with helmet-mounted cameras worn by soldiers; Apocalypse in the Tropics  (dir. Petra Costa) - a gripping portrayal of modern-day Brazil, exploring the unsettling mix of religion and politics; Mr Nobody vs Putin  (dir. David Borenstein, Pavel Talankin) - a deep-dive into the absurd extremes of how Putin's dictatorship attempts to shape the minds and identities of its citizens; Only on Earth  (dir. Robin Petré) - one of this year's most visually striking documentaries, examining the relationship between humans and nature.

"These are the films we've deemed to be the most complete both artistically and thematically this year, twelve productions representing the very best in documentary cinema - and in fact filmmaking in general," explains Karol Piekarczyk, MDAG's Artistic Director.

Meanwhile, the Best Polish Film competition has received 10 film submissions, with standout titles including Bedrock  (dir. Kinga Michalska) - a psychological journey across modern-day Poland, portraying the lives of people near Holocaust sites; and My Dear Theo  (dir. Alisa Kovalenko) - a personal story from a Ukrainian filmmaker-turned-soldier, who sends poetic letters and video diaries from the front line to her five-year-old son.

And of course, the ever-popular short films are back this year. Organised into thematic blocks, these productions from around the globe - each no longer than 45 minutes - will compete in the Best Short Film competition. Polish audiences will get to see 19 international titles, many of them premiering in Poland. Highlights include On the Impossibility of an Homage (dir. Xandra Popescu) - the story of Ion Tugearu, a legendary ballet dancer in communist Romania who now trains the next generation and dreams of preserving his legacy before he departs from this world; Am I the Skinniest Person You've Ever Seen?  (dir. Eisha Marjara) - a harrowing account of Eisha and her sister, who, as children, began obsessively controlling their eating habits, pushing themselves to the brink of death; as well as Sixty-seven Milliseconds  (dir. Antoine Fontaine, Galdric Fleury) - a forensic documentary dissecting the moment a police officer shot a young man without warning, a case that sparked outrage across France.

The festival programme is bursting at the seams, and it will be further filled with numerous thematic sections and special events, including meetings with filmmakers, debates, workshops, and discussions. It's worth noting the Debut Competition and A Mark Cousins ​​Retrospective, the British director and one of the most prolific contemporary documentary filmmakers.

Classic cinema fans will no doubt be intrigued by the Andrzej Munk's Retrospective, dedicated to one of the leading figures of the Polish Film School and the creator of unforgettable works such as Man on the Tracks, Eroica, and Bad Luck. New to the festival this year are the thematic sections Women Change the World, On Photography, and Contrasting America. "Every year, we introduce new sections that respond to issues which have resonated most deeply with filmmakers over the past twelve months. The festival keeps its finger firmly on the pulse, sensing shifts and emerging trends within the documentary film landscape," say the organisers.

Millennium Docs Against Gravity has every reason to be proud. It remains the only film festival in Europe held simultaneously across multiple cities. This year, it covers seven of them: Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdynia, Poznań, Katowice, Bydgoszcz, and Łódź, with an audience totalling 150,000 viewers. It has also earned the prestigious recognition of the European Film Academy, officially joining the ranks of "Europe's most important film festivals," giving selected films the chance to qualify for the European Film Award. And, as of late last year, it has also featured on the coveted list of Oscar-qualifying festivals in the Best Documentary Feature category.

Many films will have their world or Polish premieres at this year's Millennium Docs. And for those who can't make it to the cinema, there is still a chance to catch the festival selections from the comfort of their own sofa. The online part kicks off on 20 May and runs until 2 June. For the full lowdown on the programme, be sure to tune into episodes of the MDAG Festival Studio, available on the festival's official website mdag.pl, as well as on its Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Anna Solak

translation: Krzysztof Kotkowski

• 22^nd Millennium Docs Against Gravity
• 9-18 May (Muza Cinema), 20 May -2 June (online)
• For more, see: mdag.pl

© Wydawnictwo Miejskie Posnania 2025