MAGDALENA SZYMKÓW’S “THE CHEF SUFFRAGETTE” WINS THE DOK.ARCHIVE AWARD 2026
The Polish documentary project The Chef Suffragette, directed by Magdalena Szymków and produced by Małgorzata Prociak / Raban, has won the DOK.archive Award.
This prestigious distinction is awarded to outstanding documentary projects at the development or early production stage that make particularly creative use of archival and compilation materials. The award supports films that bring history to life through archival work, while also strengthening the important documentary tradition built around found, historical and licensed film materials.
In its statement, the jury emphasised the strength of the project and its use of archives:
“The Chef Suffragette impressed us with its creative and compelling use of archival material to bring a powerful historical story into the present.”
The DOK.archive Award is granted to projects in which high-quality archival materials play a significant role in the narrative. As the organisers point out, using historical or commercial footage on a larger scale substantially increases a production’s budget, which is why the initiative was created to support filmmakers working with licensed archival resources.
The success of The Chef Suffragette is an important recognition for the Polish project and its creators, as well as a confirmation of the film’s international potential as an archival, historically rooted narrative.
More information can be found here.