Millennium Docs Against Gravity has presented awards for the 23rd edition of the major international nonfiction film festival in Poland.
To Hold a Mountain followed its Grand Jury Prize win at Sundance by capturing MDAG’s top prize in international competition, the Grand Prix – Bank Millennium Award. The film directed by Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić, set in Montenegro, examines the attempt by two women to protect their ancestral home from being turned into a military training ground.
‘To Hold a Mountain’
MDAG
“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,” wrote the jury comprised of Oscar-nominated filmmaker Talal Derki, Oscar-shortlisted filmmaker Lea Glob, and Oscar-nominated producer Jessica Hargrave. “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.”
MDAG
A Special Mention in international competition went to A Fox Under a Pink Moon, directed by Mehrdad Oskouei and Soraya Akhlaghi, jurors calling it “a beautiful portrait of a young female Afghani artist that gave us a deeper understanding of hope, resistance and survival.”
A Fox Under a Pink Moon won the FIPRESCI Award, chosen from among films in international competition by critics Bartolomé Armentano, Igor Anjelkov, and Sylwia Szostak (all members of the FIPRESCI international critics group). The jurors wrote, “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.”
The jury added, “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.”
A Fox Under a Pink Moon also won the Amnesty International Poland Award, chosen by a jury comprised of Margje de Koning, Anna Błaszczak-Banasiak, and Anne Marie Borsboom.
Along with its main prize for films in international competition, the jury presented awards for editing and cinematography.
Strong winds lift snow off a glacial cap on a sunny day in Iceland in ‘Time and Water’
National Geographic
The editing award went to Time and Water, Sara Dosa’s documentary centering on the loss of glacial ice in Iceland. That award recognized the work of editors Erin Casper, Jocelyne Chaput, and Mark Harrison.
The jury wrote, “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.”
Daniel, the protagonist of ‘Closure,’ on a bridge in Warsaw overlooking the Vistula River.
MDAG
The cinematography award in main competition went to Closure, directed by Michał Marczak and shot by Marczak. The jury wrote, “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.”
The 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 — Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdynia, Poznań, Katowice, Łódź and Bydgoszcz – with local awards presented in each city outside of Warsaw.
‘Mariinka’
MDAG
In both Gdynia and Poznań, the top award – selected by local juries – 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’s insurgency campaign that preceded the full-scale invasion in 2022.
‘Bugboy’
MDAG
The Bydgoszcz ART.DOC Award was claimed by Bugboy, directed by Lucas Paleocrassas. Jurors for that award wrote, “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.”
Ten 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 Łapińska, Raul Niño Zambrano, and Ola Staszel, wrote, “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.”
‘Traces’
MDAG
A Special Mention in that category went to Traces, directed by Alisa Kovalenko and Marysia Nikitiuk. The jury said, “For a profoundly moving work in which the directors masterfully balance the devastating reality of sexual violence in war with a collective portrait of resilience.”
Traces won the Smakjam Award for Best Production in the Polish Film Competition, recognizing producers Olha Bregman, Natalia Libet, Violetta Kamińska, Izabela Wójcik, and Dariusz Jabłoński. The jury said Traces “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.”
Director Michał Marczak introduces his film ‘Closure’ on the opening night of Millennium Docs Against Gravity in Warsaw, Poland.
Matthew Carey
The Arthouse Cinema Association Award in Polish Competition went to the previously mentioned Closure, directed by Michał Marczak. Jurors said of it, “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.”
As Deadline has reported, Closure won the Golden Alexander, the top award in international competition at the recently completed Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival in Greece.
These are all the awards announced by 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
The Audience Award (Warsaw Documentary Award) and the Onet Big Screen Doc award will be announced following the in-person phase of MDAG.
We will update this piece with the announcement of additional prizes from Wrocław and Katowice (two of the cities hosting local editions of MDAG).