The winner of Millennium Docs Against Gravity Grand Prix in the Main Competition – the Millennium Award – as well as Euro 8,000 is the film “Last Men in Aleppo” (dir. Feras Fayyad). The award was granted by the jury composed of: Agnieszka Traczewska, Mariusz Grzegorzek and Jan P. Matuszyński. The award has been funded by the Festival’s Patron: Millenium Bank and Polish Film Institute. Two films received special mentions: “The Good Postman”, dir. Tonislav Hristov) and “Safari” (dir. Ulrich Seidl). We know all the awarded films!
The jury’s justification for the Millennium Grand Prix Award
Film allows you to show a deeper and more complex image of reality than hundreds of media news reports would.
The film which has moved us the most shows not only a great drama in a seemingly remote part of the world but, above all, people who choose heroic conduct over an escape from an overwhelming threat.
Their struggle to maintain their humanity makes us ask ourselves questions about the limits of sacrificing ourselves for others and engagement in conflicts which seem not to concern us.
Jury’s justification for granting the film “Good Postman” a special mention:
For a tragicomic and insightful image of a small, disintegrating community, which becomes a touching metaphor of universal European problems.
Jury’s justification for granting the film “Safari” a special mention:
For the director’s technical perfection in showing vanity and ignorance as well as for the uncompromising presentation of a world we do not see in nature films.
Fiction/Non-Fiction Award
The decision concerning the verdict was taken by the jury composed of Marta Minorowicz, Syllas Tzoumerkas, Tomasz Wasilewski. The Fiction/Non-Fiction Award for the best film, which combines documentary and fiction as well as Euro 4,000 goes to the film “House in the Fields” (dir. Tala Hadid). The award is funded by the Polish Film Institute.
For skilfully converging documentary with fiction devices to narrate the deep emotions and the intimacy in two siblings’ separation, while presenting a dynamic understanding of woman’s position in the specific circumstances, the FICTION / NON – FICTION AWARD goes to Tala Hadid for “HOUSE IN THE FIELDS” – says the justification.
For “capturing the pulse of a metropolis today through the shreds of the lives of its inhabitants”, the BEST DIRECTOR AWARD goes to Piotr Stasik for “21 X NEW YORK”.
For “their original, unconventional and insightful approach to a boiling issue”, the jury creates and gives the BEST ACTOR / DIRECTOR COLLABORATION IN A FICTION / NON-FICTION FILM AWARD to Valentijn Dhaenens and Guido Henrickx for „STRANGER IN PARADISE”.
Amnesty International Award
The Amnesty International Award for the best film about human rights and Euro 3,000 were granted by the jury composed of: Draginja Nadaždin, Mirosław Chojecki and Tadeusz Sobolewski. The winner film is “The War Show” (dir. Andreas Dalsgaard, Obaidah Zytoon).
The main award of Amnesty International’s Polish branch is granted to: “THE WAR SHOW” directed by Andreas Dalsgaard and Obaidah Zaytoon. The film shows the increasing conflict in Syria through the eyes of a young female DJ and her friends who participate in the Arab Spring protests and dream about freedom. It soon turns out that Syrians find themselves in an escalating violence trap and a deepening conflict which destroys society, kills entire cities and dashes the hopes of getting out of the regime’s oppression. The film has a universal message of fragile society easily destroyed by violence which inevitably leads to a civil war. It is also about an immortal dream of freedom, which, as it turns out, is not at our fingertips – say the jury members in the justification of their verdict.
Two films receive special mentions:
“STRANGER IN PARADISE”
“THE TRIAL. THE STATE OF RUSSIA VS. OLEG SENTSOV”
“STRANGER IN PARADISE” – “for an insight into the process, which determines the futures and lives of migrants and refuges who come to Europe. The process is based on often absurd regulations and authority. The film poses inconvenient questions about Europe’s migration policy and leaves both migrants and viewers with no illusions – the brutality and arbitrariness of the policy are extremely vivid”.
“THE TRIAL. THE STATE OF RUSSIA VS. OLEG SENTSOV” – “for an extraordinary depiction of Sentsov, a Ukrainian director who was sentenced in a show trial, through which he exposes the fact that Russian courts are not independent. The film shows the price he and his family pay but also the inspiring solidarity people in Russia, Ukraine and all over the world show him”.
CHOPIN’S NOSE AWARD
The jury Composed of Anda Rottenberg, Agnieszka Obszańska and Wacław Zimpel made the decision to grant the award for the best music and art film and Euro 2,000 to the film “La Chana” (dir. Lucija Stojevic). The Chopin’s Nose Award is funded by the National Audiovisual Institute. “For the powerful and captivating image of an artist and a person, which shows the determination and strength of personality. For a captivating and inspirational story which proves that there are no limits for a true passion – says the jury’s justification for the verdict.
The film “Beuys” (dir. Andres Veiel) receives a special mention. “For an evocative story of an uncompromising artist which is very relevant today. Its theme, narration, form and message build a multidimensional tale, which goes beyond the mere protagonist” – says the jury in its verdict’s justification.
“CO JEST GRANE 24” READERS’ CHOICE AWARD”
The “Co Jest Grane 24” readers who were voting in Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdynia and Bydgoszcz decided to grant the award and Euro 2,000 to the film „Happy Olo – The Merry Tale of Olo Doba” (dir. Krzysztof Paweł Bogocz, Marcin Macuk)
Green Warsaw Award
The jury composed of Leszek Drogosz, Justyna Kościńska and Nina Józefina Bąk granted the award for the best film on ecology and Euro 3,000 to the film “The Tipping Point. Energy aNew”, (dir. Łukasz Bluszcz). The award is funded by the Capital City of Warsaw Municipal Office.
Jury’s justification for the verdict: The Film “THE TIPPING POINT. ENERGY aNEW” deals with the global climate problems in a complex way, yet without growing heated.
It shows the truth about our country and its political elites being tangled in the ethos of mining which is seen as an important branch of the national economy. It also shows possible honourable solutions, which would suit everyone. It does not aspire to the form of a scientific lecture but it does not get away from scientific arguments.
The jury granted a special mention to the film “SEED: The Untold Story” (dir. Jon Betz, Taggart Siegel). The verdict justification says: The film “SEED: Untold Story” which shows the beauty and lushness of nature, at the same time highlighting the need to protect it receives a special mention.
A special mention is given to the film “IN THE NAME OF THE ANIMALS” (dir. Sabine Kückelmann) for an empathic and uncompromising depiction of the mechanism of extermination, by which modern societies take away millions of animal lives every day.
DOCUMENTARY ACADEMY AWARD
Intergenerational Jury, composed of high school students who cooperate with Documentary Academy and the participants of the program Archipelag Pokoleń (Archipelago of Generations) Grants the Documentary Academy Award to: “MONSTER IN THE MIND” (dir. Jean Carper).
Justification: “MONSTER IN THE MIND” is produced perfectly and has a dynamic editing. It presents a terrifying disease which Alzheimer’s is in a light, distanced and humorous way. It educates and opens our minds.
“Normal Autistic Film” (dir. Miroslav Janek) receives a special mention. Justification: “NORMAL AUTISTIC FILM” presents a group of children, who function… in a different way, which is not “abnormal” or “wrong”. It does not exaggerate the problem but raises awareness and provokes reflection.
