MIFF presents
The Tale of Silyan
When
Sun 9 Aug – Mon 17 Aug 2026
Man meets stork in this heartwarming depiction of rural struggle and rehabilitation from one of the filmmakers behind the Oscar-nominated Honeyland.
Nikola Conev, born into a long lineage of farmers in North Macedonia, is struggling. Harsh economic conditions, the collapse of local markets and the decline of rural living have gripped his local community. His wife, children and grandchildren have all left the country for greater opportunities. At a loss, and filled with loneliness, he brings home a white stork with a broken wing. As he nurses it back to health, Conev experiences his own sense of healing.
Tamara Kotevska’s previous portrait of farming in rural North Macedonia, Honeyland (co-directed with Ljubomir Stefanov, MIFF 2019), received Oscar nominations for both Best Documentary and Best International Feature Film. The Tale of Silyan, which premiered at Venice and won Best Feature Documentary at the International Documentary Association Awards, is equally impressive: a unique modern-day folktale filled with heart, humour and spectacular cinematography.
Content: Melbourne International Film Festival
An excellent documentary that also happens to be a ravishing work of poetry … The Tale of Silyan is the work of a filmmaker capable of shattering categories and inventing new forms.
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