The 22nd edition of Millennium Docs Against Gravity (MDAG), the largest documentary film festival in Poland, took place from 9-18 May across seven cities, with its online edition still running from 20 May-2 June. The festival has announced the winners of the awards presented by juries in several participating cities, Gdynia, Wrocław, Katowice, Poznań and Bydgoszcz, as well as the Audience Award.

In the Main Competition, the Grand Prix Bank Millennium Award, accompanied by €8,000, was bestowed upon Yintah by Jennifer Wickham, Brenda Michell and Michael Toledano. The jury – comprising Simon Lereng Wilmont, Salma Abdalla and Remi Grelletty – stated: “The main award goes to a film shot over more than a decade, documenting a centuries-old – yet still ongoing – struggle to protect ancestral land. Indigenous peoples are confronted by a corpocracy, where private interests – shielded by state protection – are destroying the environment they have preserved for generations. At the heart of this anti-colonial resistance are two women, two leaders who stood up. The powerful editing of their non-violent protest scenes, combined with the striking cinematography of the untouched wilderness they are defending, makes Yintah a painfully beautiful viewing experience. The film challenges us to imagine and enact resistance before it’s too late.” Furthermore, the jury handed a Special Mention to A Want in Her [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Myrid Carten
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In other Polish cities, the Mayor of Gdynia Award (worth 15,000 PLN, or around €3,540) was presented to My Stolen Planet [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] by Mstyslav Chernov, “for crafting a poignant story that shows a struggle for freedom – an inalienable human right – while also emphasising its cost”. In Bydgoszcz, the ART.DOC Award (worth €2,500) went to Mr. Nobody Against Putin [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] by David Borenstein and Pasha Talankin, which serves “as a warning that each of us could become a ‘Mr Nobody’ in the face of radical sociopolitical changes that seek to suppress freedom”. An Honorary Mention from the District Bar Council in Bydgoszcz for the best production on human rights was also awarded to My Stolen Planet. In Wrocław, the Lower Silesia Grand Prix was handed to Coexistence, My Ass! [+leggi anche:
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In the Polish Competition, the Best Polish Film Award and the accompanying €4,000 prize went to Bedrock, directed by Kinga Michalska. The winner was selected by the jury – consisting of Dorota Lech, Victoria Leshchenko and Jakub Popielecki – who stated: “We have unanimously decided to reward a film that combines artistic merit with timeliness, reminding us that history is not a closed chapter and that we are still living in it. We cannot wait for another film from this spectacular emerging artist.” The jury also gave a Special Mention to King Matt the First [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Jaśmina Wójcik
scheda film] by Jaśmina Wójcik.

The Smakjam Award for Best Production (€3,000) went to Das Deutsche Volk [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Marcin Wierzchowski
scheda film] by Marcin Wierzchowski, described as “an urgent and deeply relevant work that speaks to our most profound fears”. Finally, the Arthouse Cinema Association Award was given to Letters From Wolf Street [+leggi anche:
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Here is the full list of award winners at the 22nd Millennium Docs Against Gravity:

Grand Prix – Bank Millennium Award
Yintah - Jennifer Wickham, Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano (Canada)
Special Mention
A Want in Her [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Myrid Carten
scheda film] - Myrid Carten (Ireland/UK/Netherlands)

Mayor of Gdynia Award
My Stolen Planet [+leggi anche:
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Special Mention
Come See Me in the Good Light - Ryan White (USA)

City of Poznań Freedom Award
2000 Meters to Andriivka [+leggi anche:
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Bydgoszcz Art.Doc Award
Mr. Nobody Against Putin [+leggi anche:
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Honorary Mention of the District Bar Council in Bydgoszcz
My Stolen Planet - Farahnaz Sharifi

Lower Silesia Grand Prix
Coexistence, My Ass! [+leggi anche:
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trailer
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Special Mention
Mr. Nobody Against Putin - David Borenstein, Pavel Talankin

Best Polish Film Award
Bedrock - Kinga Michalska (Canada)
Special Mention
King Matt the First [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Jaśmina Wójcik
scheda film] - Jaśmina Wójcik (Poland)

Smakjam Polish Competition Prize for the Best Production
Das Deutsche Volk [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Marcin Wierzchowski
scheda film] - Marcin Wierzchowski (Germany)

Arthouse Cinema Association Award in the Polish Competition
Letters From Wolf Street [+leggi anche:
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Special Mention
The Passenger Andrzej Munk - Michał Bielawski (Poland)

Best Short Film Award
Instruments of a Beating Heart - Ema Ryan Yamazaki (Japan)
Special Mention
Lift Lady - Marcin Modzelewski (Poland)

First Appearance Award
Songs of Slow Burning Earth [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Olha Zhurba
scheda film] - Olha Zhurba (Ukraine/Denmark/Sweden/France)
Special Mention
Home Game [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Lidija Zelovic
scheda film] - Lidija Zelović (Netherlands)

Best Cinematography
Maria Goya Barquet - Only on Earth [+leggi anche:
intervista: Robin Petré
intervista: Robin Petré
scheda film] (Denmark/Spain)
Special Mention
Volodymyr Usyk - Songs of Slow Burning Earth

Amnesty International Poland Award
Songs of Slow Burning Earth - Olha Zhurba
Special Mention
My Stolen Planet - Farahnaz Sharifi

Newsweek Psychologia Award
Portrait of a Confused Father - Gunnar Hall Jensen (Norway)

Chopin’s Nose Award
S/He Is Still Her/e: The Official Genesis P-Orridge Documentary – David Charles Rodrigues (USA)
Special Mention
Move Ya Body: The Birth of House - Elegance Bratton (USA)

Green Warsaw Award
Dust to Dust - Kosai Sekine (Japan)
Special Mention
Only on Earth - Robin Petré

Etnomatograph Award
Yintah - Jennifer Wickham, Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano

All About Freedom Festival Award
My Dear Théo [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] - Alisa Kovalenko (Poland/Czech Republic/Ukraine)

Audience Award
2000 Meters to Andriivka - Mstyslav Chernov

Onet Big Screen Award
Sally - Cristina Costantini (USA)