This special screening is exclusive to VTIFF members. This event is free but advance registration is recommended. Before the show, we will hold a reception in the Lake Lobby with catering from Santiago’s and a cash bar from Foam Brewers.
From the Oscar-nominated director of Honeyland comes a poignant and beautifully photographed story set in the heart of rural Macedonia. Unfolding like a local fable, this lyrical non-fiction film follows a farmer at a crossroads: Nikola and his wife grapple with the harsh realities of new government policies, suddenly finding themselves unable to sell their land or crops. While others seek security elsewhere, Nikola remains rooted in the fields he has long tended, determined to preserve the only way of life he knows. At this uncertain moment in his life, he discovers another local resident in need of help: a majestic stork with a broken wing. He begins tenderly nurturing this new companion back to health and an unlikely bond forms between them. With breathtaking cinematography, filmmaker Tamara Kotevskathe captures the stark beauty of her homeland and the strength of those who continue to work its land, creating a deeply moving film that touches on climate change, economic migration, and the quiet power of connection. The Tale of Silyan was selected as the North Macedonian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.