The 20^th edition of Millennium Docs Against Gravity (MDAG) starts today in eight Polish cities – Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdynia, Poznań, Katowice, Łódź, Bydgoszcz and Lublin – and will last in cinemas until 21 May. The online part of the festival will be available at the mdag.pl platform from 23 May to 4 June.

"Don't remain indifferent" encapsulates the core mission of Millennium Docs Against Gravity and its film program over the years. It embodies the festival's enduring values of attentiveness, sensitivity (including linguistic sensitivity), and genuine concern for those around us. This inclusive message embraces individuals of all gender identities, emphasising the pivotal role of language in today's world. The festival strives to foster an environment where everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or background, feels comfortable and accepted. In commemorating its 20^th anniversary, MDAG adopts the renowned words of Marian Turski, also used as the slogan during the POLIN Museum's 80^th anniversary celebration of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. This shared slogan signifies the festival and museum's close collaboration and shared values.

Karol Piekarczyk, the artistic director of the festival, expressed great satisfaction in highlighting that MDAG is actively contributing to the pursuit of gender equality within the film industry. In the upcoming edition, the Main Competition will feature a commendable balance between male and female directors, with eight women and eight men helming the films. Furthermore, the festival's jury, composed of 30 distinguished members, includes 17 women and 13 men, further emphasising a commitment to inclusivity and diverse perspectives.

In this edition, 12 films are participating in the Main Competition of the festival, with three of them being either Polish productions or co-productions. These films will vie not only for the prestigious Grand Prix - the Bank Millennium Award, but also for various local accolades in different festival cities. These include the Lower Silesia Grand Prix in Wrocław, the Bydgoszcz ART/DOC Award, the Silesian Voivodeship Audience Award in Katowice, the City of Gdynia Grand Prix, and the Freedom Award, which is sponsored by the City of Poznań.

The selection features: Against The Tide by Sarvnik Kaur (India/France), All the Beauty and the Bloodshed by Laura Poitras (USA), Apolonia, Apolonia [+lire aussi :
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interview : Lea Glob
fiche film] by Lea Glob (Denmark), Bad Press by Rebecca Landsberry-Baker and Joe Peeler (USA), The Hermit of Treig by Lizzie MacKenzie (UK), Innocence [+lire aussi :
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interview : Guy Davidi
fiche film] by Guy Davidi (Denmark/Israel/Finland/Iceland), Pianoforte [+lire aussi :
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fiche film] by Jakub Piątek (Poland), Smoke Sauna Sisterhood [+lire aussi :
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interview : Anna Hints
fiche film] by Anna Hints (Estonia/France/Iceland), Theatre of Violence by Łukasz Konopa and Emil Langballe (Denmark/Germany), Under the Sky of Damascus [+lire aussi :
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fiche film] by Heba Khaled, Talal Derki and Ali Wajeeh (Denmark/Germany/USA/Syria), We Will Not Fade Away [+lire aussi :
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fiche film] by Alisa Kovalenko (Ukraine/Poland/France), and Whale Nation by Jean-Albert Lièvre (France).

A total of 11 films are participating in the Polish Competition, each vying for the opportunity to secure three distinct awards. These awards include the prestigious Best Polish Film Award, the Best Production Award in the Polish Competition, which is presented by the post-production studio Smakjam, and the Association of Studio Cinemas Award. The selection includes five world premieres, Fantastic Matt Parey by Bartosz Paduch (Poland), Girls’ Stories by Aga Borzym (Poland), In the Rearview [+lire aussi :
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fiche film] by Maciek Hamela (Poland/France), Solaris Mon Amour by Kuba Mikurda (Poland), and Vika! by Agnieszka Zwiefka (Poland/Germany/Finland) along with In Ukraine [+lire aussi :
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interview : Piotr Pawlus et Tomasz Wol…
fiche film] by Piotr Pawlus and Tomasz Wolski (Poland/Germany), Leon by Wojciech Gostomczyk (Poland), Polish Prayers [+lire aussi :
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interview : Hana Nobis
fiche film] by Hanna Nobis (Switzerland/Poland) and the three Polish co-productions of the Main Competition.

The 20^th edition of the festival celebrates its history while embracing new program sections. Founder and director Artur Liebhart personally selected 20 legendary films that have made an impact on Millennium Docs Against Gravity and the documentary genre. Ten films will be screened in cinemas, while the remaining ten will be available online. Additional sections include "The Power of Sisterhood," highlighting stories of solidarity and collective action by women worldwide, "Se_x Work" focusing on pornography and sex work, "We're Here, We're Queer" exploring LGBTQ+ experiences globally, "The Power of Words" delving into the works of renowned writers, "What the Doc?!" showcasing astonishing, amusing, and horrifying stories, and the return of "Cinéma, Mon Amour," examining the responsibility of documentary filmmakers. Additionally, the festival will feature a selection of intriguing virtual reality experiences called "Reality Check."

Finally, a new addition to the festival this year is the creation of a dedicated area called "Safe Space" in room 6 of the Warsaw Kinoteka. This space will serve as a sanctuary for engaging discussions, workshops, and meetings centred around sexuality, mental health, and other societal influences. Various NGOs, experts, and festival-affiliated editorial offices will organise these gatherings. Additionally, psychologists will be on hand to provide free, 20-minute consultations to address emotions and experiences arising from film screenings. Safe Space aims to foster both light-hearted and profound dialogues in a secure environment.