{"id":485592,"date":"2026-05-15T06:57:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T06:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/485592\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T06:57:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T06:57:18","slug":"millennium-docs-against-gravity-announces-2026-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/485592\/","title":{"rendered":"Millennium Docs Against Gravity Announces 2026 Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tMillennium Docs Against Gravity<\/a> has presented awards for the 23rd edition of the major international nonfiction film festival in Poland.<\/p>\n

\n\tTo Hold a Mountain<\/a> followed its Grand Jury Prize win at Sundance by capturing MDAG<\/a>\u2019s top prize in international competition, the Grand Prix \u2013 Bank Millennium Award. The film directed by Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazi\u0107, set in Montenegro, examines the attempt by two women to protect their ancestral home from being turned into a military training ground.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"'To<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\u2018To Hold a Mountain\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMDAG<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThe film takes us into a magical world \u2013 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,\u201d wrote the jury comprised of Oscar-nominated filmmaker Talal Derki, Oscar-shortlisted filmmaker Lea Glob, and Oscar-nominated producer Jessica Hargrave. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"'A<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\u2018A Fox Under a Pink Moon<\/a>\u2018<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMDAG<\/p>\n

\n\tA Special Mention in international competition went to A Fox Under a Pink Moon, directed by Mehrdad Oskouei and Soraya Akhlaghi, jurors calling it \u201ca beautiful portrait of a young female Afghani artist that gave us a deeper understanding of hope, resistance and survival.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tA Fox Under a Pink Moon won the FIPRESCI Award, chosen from among films in international competition by critics Bartolom\u00e9 Armentano, Igor Anjelkov, and Sylwia Szostak (all members of the FIPRESCI international critics group). The jurors wrote, \u201cThe film awarded today reminds us of one of the most important functions of documentary cinema \u2013 its ability to respond to current issues, ask difficult questions, and compel us to reflect on the world we live in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe jury added, \u201cThis is a story that people should hear today especially strongly \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tA Fox Under a Pink Moon also won the Amnesty International Poland Award, chosen by a jury comprised of Margje de Koning, Anna B\u0142aszczak-Banasiak, and Anne Marie Borsboom.<\/p>\n

\n\tAlong with its main prize for films in international competition, the jury presented awards for editing and cinematography.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Strong<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tStrong winds lift snow off a glacial cap on a sunny day in Iceland in \u2018Time and Water\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNational Geographic<\/p>\n

\n\tThe editing award went to Time and Water, Sara Dosa\u2019s documentary centering on the loss of glacial ice in Iceland. That award recognized the work of editors Erin Casper, Jocelyne Chaput, and Mark Harrison.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe jury wrote, \u201cAn 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Daniel,<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tDaniel, the protagonist of \u2018Closure,\u2019 on a bridge in Warsaw overlooking the Vistula River.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMDAG<\/p>\n

\n\tThe cinematography award in main competition went to Closure, directed by Micha\u0142 Marczak and shot by Marczak. The jury wrote, \u201cBalanced between an expansive river panorama and the inner layers of a grieving father\u2019s mind, the visuals of this film transmit a message tying the intimacy of the father\u2019s beliefs to the vastness of nature and its power.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe in-person phase of MDAG, the second-largest documentary film festival in Europe, ends on Sunday; it continues online from May 19-June 1. MDAG is held simultaneously across seven cities in Poland \u2014 Warsaw, Wroc\u0142aw, Gdynia, Pozna\u0144, Katowice, \u0141\u00f3d\u017a and Bydgoszcz \u2013 with local awards presented in each city outside of Warsaw.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"'Mariinka'\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Mariinka\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMDAG<\/p>\n

\n\tIn both Gdynia and Pozna\u0144, the top award \u2013 selected by local juries \u2013 went to Mariinka, directed by Pieter-Jan de Pue. The story set in the Ukrainian town of Mariinka in the Donetsk region, examines a place defined by more than 10 years of war, stretching back to Russia\u2019s insurgency campaign that preceded the full-scale invasion in 2022.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"'Bugboy'\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Bugboy\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMDAG<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Bydgoszcz ART.DOC Award was claimed by Bugboy, directed by Lucas Paleocrassas. Jurors for that award wrote, \u201cBugboy 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tTen films contended in the Polish Competition section of MDAG. The winner there was Candidates of Death, directed by Maciej Cuske. The jury, comprised of Joanna \u0141api\u0144ska, Raul Ni\u00f1o Zambrano, and Ola Staszel, wrote, \u201cFor 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"'Traces'\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Traces\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMDAG<\/p>\n

\n\tA Special Mention in that category went to Traces, directed by Alisa Kovalenko and Marysia Nikitiuk. The jury said, \u201cFor a profoundly moving work in which the directors masterfully balance the devastating reality of sexual violence in war with a collective portrait of resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tTraces won the Smakjam Award for Best Production in the Polish Film Competition, recognizing producers Olha Bregman, Natalia Libet, Violetta Kami\u0144ska, Izabela W\u00f3jcik, and Dariusz Jab\u0142o\u0144ski. The jury said Traces \u201cserves as a powerful reminder of the potential of documentary cinema \u2013 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Director<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tDirector Micha\u0142 Marczak introduces his film \u2018Closure\u2019 on the opening night of Millennium Docs Against Gravity in Warsaw, Poland.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMatthew Carey<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Arthouse Cinema Association Award in Polish Competition went to the previously mentioned Closure, directed by Micha\u0142 Marczak. Jurors said of it, \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAs Deadline has reported<\/a>, Closure won the Golden Alexander, the top award in international competition at the recently completed Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival in Greece.<\/p>\n

\n\tThese are all the awards announced by MDAG:<\/p>\n

\n\tMain Competition. Bank Millennium Award \u2013 Grand Prix<\/strong>: \u201cTo Hold a Mountain\u201d, dir. Biljana Tutorov, Petar Glomazi\u0107<\/p>\n

\n\tSpecial Mention<\/strong>: \u201cA Fox Under a Pink Moon\u201d, dir. Mehrdad Oskouei, Soraya Akhlaghi<\/p>\n

\n\tMain Competition. Best Cinematography Award<\/strong>: \u201cClosure\u201d, dir. Micha\u0142 Marczak, cinematography: Micha\u0142 Marczak<\/p>\n

\n\tMain Competition. Best Editing Award<\/strong>: \u201cTime and Water\u201d, dir. Sara Dosa, editing: Erin Casper, Jocelyne Chaput, Mark Harrison<\/p>\n

\n\tMain Competition. FIPRESCI Award<\/strong>: \u201cA Fox Under a Pink Moon\u201d, dir. Mehrdad Oskouei, Soraya Akhlaghi<\/p>\n

\n\tMain Competition in Gdynia. The Mayor of Gdynia Award<\/strong>: \u201cMariinka\u201d, dir. Pieter-Jan de Pue<\/p>\n

\n\tMain Competition in Pozna\u0144. The City of Pozna\u0144 Freedom Award<\/strong>: \u201cMariinka\u201d, dir. Pieter-Jan de Pue<\/p>\n

\n\tSpecial Mention: \u201cTwo Mountains Weighing Down My Chest\u201d , dir. Viv Li<\/p>\n

\n\tMain Competition in Bydgoszcz. BYDGOSZCZ ART.DOC AWARD<\/strong>: \u201cBugboy\u201d, dir. Lucas Paleocrassas<\/p>\n

\n\tHonorary Mention of the Regional Bar Council in Bydgoszcz for the Best Production Addressing Human Rights Issues: \u201cNuisance Bear\u201d, dir. Gabriela Osio Vanden, Jack Weisman<\/p>\n

\n\tBest Polish Film Award<\/strong>: \u201cCandidates of Death\u201d, dir. Maciej Cuske<\/p>\n

\n\tSpecial Mention: \u201cTraces\u201d, dir. Alisa Kovalenko, Marysia Nikitiuk<\/p>\n

\n\tSmakjam Award for the Best Production in a Polish Film<\/strong>: \u201cTraces\u201d, dir. Alisa Kovalenko, Marysia Nikitiuk; producers: Dariusz Jab\u0142o\u0144ski, Izabela W\u00f3jcik, Olha Bregman, Natalia Libet, Violetta Kami\u0144ska<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Arthouse Cinema Association Award in the Polish Competition<\/strong>: \u201cClosure\u201d, dir. Micha\u0142 Marczak<\/p>\n

\n\tSpecial Mention: \u201cBigger Picture\u201d, dir. Miko\u0142aj Janik<\/p>\n

\n\tBest Short Film Award<\/strong>: \u201cHow to catch a Butterfly?\u201d, dir. Kiriko Mechanicus<\/p>\n

\n\tSpecial Mention: \u201cGuided Tour\u201d, dir. Alba Jaramillo<\/p>\n

\n\tFirst Appearance Award<\/strong>: \u201cConfessions of a Mole\u201d, dir. Mo Tan<\/p>\n

\n\tSpecial Mention: \u201cJoybubbles\u201d, dir. Rachael J. Morrison<\/p>\n

\n\tGreen Warsaw Award<\/strong>: \u201cWhispers in the Woods\u201d, dir. Vincent Munier<\/p>\n

\n\tSpecial Mention: \u201cSentient\u201d, dir. Tony Jones<\/p>\n

\n\tChopin\u2019s Nose Award<\/strong>: \u201cCrocodile\u201d, dir. Pietra Brettkelly, The Critics<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cNewsweek Psychologia\u201d Award for the Best Film on Psychological Themes<\/strong>: \u201cMy Word Against Mine\u201d, dir. Maasja Ooms<\/p>\n

\n\tAmnesty International Poland Award<\/strong>: \u201cA Fox Under a Pink Moon\u201d, dir. Mehrdad Oskouei, Soraya Akhlaghi<\/p>\n

\n\tOTHER AWARDS PRESENTED DURING THE GALA IN GDYNIA:<\/p>\n

\n\tETNOMATOGRAF Award<\/strong>: \u201cDaughters of the Forest\u201d, dir. Otilia Portillo Padua<\/p>\n

\n\tAll About Freedom Festival Award<\/strong>: \u201cThe Librarians\u201d, dir. Kim A. Snyder<\/p>\n

\n\tGdynia Emigration Museum Compass Award<\/strong>: \u201cA Fox Under a Pink Moon\u201d, dir. Mehrdad Oskouei, Soraya Akhlaghi<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Audience Award <\/strong>(Warsaw Documentary Award) and the Onet Big Screen Doc<\/strong> award will be announced following the in-person phase of MDAG.<\/p>\n

\n\tWe will update this piece with the announcement of additional prizes from Wroc\u0142aw<\/strong> and Katowice (two of the cities hosting local editions of MDAG).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Millennium Docs Against Gravity has presented awards for the 23rd edition of the major international nonfiction film festival…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":485593,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[263],"tags":[212161,18,117,19,17,191395,191396,327,212162],"class_list":["post-485592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-movies","tag-a-fox-under-a-pink-moon","tag-eire","tag-entertainment","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-mdag","tag-millennium-docs-against-gravity","tag-movies","tag-to-hold-a-mountain"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/116577295280256641","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/485592","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=485592"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/485592\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/485593"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=485592"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=485592"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=485592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}