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The Tale of Silyan

Directed by Tamara Kotevska
North Macedonia
2025
80 mins
PG
Oscar-nominated Tamara Kotevska’s (Honeyland, SFF 2019) remarkable new documentary follows a Macedonian farmer and an injured stork, whose unlikely friendship transforms a solitary life. Venice, 2025.

Nikola has worked the land he loves for his entire life, but new government policies leave him unable to sustain his farm. With his family forced to seek work abroad, he is left alone, until a chance encounter at a landfill brings an injured white stork into his life. Nursing Silyan back to health, Nikola discovers a companion who fills the emptiness left by those he loves. Inspired by a 17th-century Macedonian folktale, award-winning documentarian Tamara Kotevska crafts a visually stunning, tender story of survival, connection and the fragile bond between humans and nature. Winner, Best Film, Cinema and Arts Award at Venice.

“An absolute charmer, The Tale of Silyan is an affecting look at the human-avian bond, with all its mysteries, warmth and ungainly practicalities.”
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter
“A lyrical and gorgeously lensed documentary hybrid that explores the interconnection between humans, animals and nature.”
Alissa Simon, Variety
“An absolute charmer, The Tale of Silyan is an affecting look at the human-avian bond, with all its mysteries, warmth and ungainly practicalities.”
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter

Tickets

Sat 6 June 2026, 4:15pm
Past Event
State Library of NSW
State Library of NSW
Assisted ListeningWheelchair
Sun 7 June 2026, 2pm
Past Event
Dendy Newtown - Cinema 1
Dendy Newtown - Cinema 1
Assisted ListeningWheelchair
Sun 14 June 2026, 4:30pm
Past Event
Palace Norton Street - Cinema 3
Palace Norton St - Cinema 3
Assisted ListeningWheelchair
See more, save more with a Flexipass or Youth Pass

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking, or see our Access & Inclusion page for more information.

  • Program Strand
    International Documentaries
  • Year
    2025
  • Classification
    PG
  • Country
    North Macedonia, USA
  • Language
    In Macedonian and English with English subtitles
  • Director
    Tamara Kotevska
  • Producer
    Tamara Kotevska, Jean Dakar, Anna Hashmi, Jordanco Petkovski
  • Screenwriter
    Tamara Kotevska
  • Cinematographer
    Jean Dakar
  • Editor
    Martin Ivanov
  • Composer
    Joe Wilson Davies, HunOuk Park
  • Genre
    Documentary, Environment, Award Winner, Women Directors
  • Premiere
    NSW Premiere
  • Company Credits
    Australian Distributor: Madman Entertainment
Aboriginal FlagTorres Strait Flag

Sydney Film Festival acknowledges Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF is based.

We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

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