The Awarding Ceremony of the 15th GDFF was held on Saturday, 3rd June at 7.00 PM in the European Solidarity Centre. The jury composed of: its head Maciej Pieprzyca as well as Michał Oleszczyk and Martina Parenti granted the festival’s main award – the Gate of Freedom and financial award of PLN 20,000 which was funded by the Mayor of Gdańsk to a Polish documentary “Communion” (2016) by Anna Zamecka for the extraordinary directorial skill and delicacy of approach, as well as a deeply sympathetic portrait of human dignity within a family and society at large. The editor, Agnieszka Glińska collected the award on her behalf.

The jury has also awarded three competition films special mentions:
“Sand Men” (dir. Tal Amiran | Great Britain | 2016)
Jury’s justification for the verdict: For simplicity of form and the power of the message, as well as for the portrait of people who find their dignity and endurance in creating fleeting, extraordinary artworks.
“Shepherd” (dir. Joost van der Wiel | 2016 | 22 min.
Jury’s justification for the verdict: For an inspiring portrayal of a man whose spirit, endurance and working ethics should be exemplary for all humans around the world.
“First Pole on Mars” (dir. Agnieszka Elbanowska | Poland | 2016)
Jury’s justification for the verdict: For its skilful mixture of seriousness and humour, which results in a touching portrait of a man who dares to dream of a journey literally out of this world.
The film’s editor, Katarzyna Boniecka received the special mention for Agnieszka Elbanowska’s film.
The audience award went to “The First Pole on Mars”.

Izabela Reszka, one of the viewers who voted for their favourite films, won a blu-ray DVD player in a prize-drawing.
Gdańsk DocFilm Festival’s jury has also awarded the Polish filmmakers nominations for Jan Machulski Young Cinema Award. The 2017 edition is the first Gdańsk DocFilm Festival during which the winner film also received the nominations in three categories. “Communion” was nominated for the awards as: the Best Documentary, the Best Director (nomination for Anna Zamecka), the Best Cinematography (nomination for Małgorzata Szyłak). Katarzyna Boniecka was nominated for the Best Editing of Agnieszka Elbanowska’s “First Pole On Mars”.
After the Festival’s closing ceremony, Anna Zamecka’s “Communion” was screened.

See you next year!