The award ceremony of the 5th MDAG Industry Awards took place at the State Ethnographic Museum after four pitch sessions, the presentation of 50 projects and over 350 one-on-one meetings. “This year’s edition brought forward stories that are too rarely heard, yet have the power to shift perspectives and expand our shared experience. We believe the projects presented within MDAG Industry will be bold, moving, and uncompromising, and will find their way to audiences around the world,” commented Industry Head Anna Szczypińska.
PROGRESS PITCHING SESSION
- CANAL+ Polska Award (Grand Prize of €3,000): THE LAWYER by Maciej Bochniak, prod. Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska, Kinga Tasarek (Madants)
- Polish Filmmakers Association Award (Cash prize of 10 000 PLN). THE LAWYER by Maciej Bochniak, prod. Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska, Kinga Tasarek (Madants)
- SMAKJAM Award (Colour grading services worth 15,000 PLN): CHILDREN OF THE BLACK GARDEN by Łukasz Kowalski, prod. Anna Mazerant, Łukasz Kowalski (4.30 Studio)
- SoundMind Award (Sound post-production services worth PLN 10,000): THE LAWYER by Maciej Bochniak, prod. Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska, Kinga Tasarek (Madants)
- The Jacob Burns Film Center Award (An artist-in-residence programme at The Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville, NY): THE DIARY OF EXPERIENCES by Dorota Roś, prod. Zofia Kujawska (Telemark)
- VISIONI DAL MONDO Award (Accreditation and participation of the project in the Visioni dal Mondo pitching session in Milan): NO MOTHER’S LAND by Wiktoria Szymanska-Davis, prod. Monika Braid (Braidmade Films), Wiktoria Davis, Sonja Henrici
SHORT PITCH PROGRAM. Organisers: Millennium Docs Against Gravity, Institute of Documentary Film
- Polish Filmmakers Association Award (Cash prize of 5,000 PLN): BELL BOY, dir. and prod by Akseli Leppänen
- EAST DOC AWARD (Awarded by the Institute of Documentary Film – specialist consultations on the rough cut and a tailored festival distribution strategy): BELL BOY, dir. & prod by Akseli Leppänen
- DAE AWARD (Presented by the Documentary Association of Europe, an individual consultation session with an experienced DAE consultant): NAPLES, FLORIDA by Modesta Žemgulytė, prod. Akvilė Žilionytė-Khan (Artišokai)
- RISING PRODUCER AWARD (Award presented by the Polish Producers Alliance – an individual mentoring programme led by an experienced industry specialist): KYIV UNDER MY WHEELS by Marina Baibarza, prod. Marina Baibarza (Process Films)
7TH YOUNG AUDIENCES DOCUMENTARY FILM FORUM. Organiser: The Wajda Film Centre
- Millennium Docs Against Gravity Best Project (Cash Prize of 7,000 PLN): THE ORCHID QUEST by Florian Rudolph
- LET’S DOC Festival Best Project (Cash Prize of 7,000 PLN): ALMOST AT HOME by Aleksandra Kubisa
- Polish Filmmakers Association Best Project (Cash Prize of 7,000 PLN): WHERE THE FOREST ENDS, dir Polish Filmmakers Association. Mateusz Buława
