The Tale of Silyan

Silyan has an elegant body adorned in white feathers and with strong black wings. His eyes are reminiscent of Egyptian pharaohs, their natural makeup drawing the viewer into their deep, dark gaze. Silyan initially appears as a mere misplaced bird, yet subtly reveals his mystical nature throughout the film. As the story unfolds, he appears to exhibit an understanding of human emotions and complexities, mirroring the depth of the human characters around him. A free and wild migratory bird, but unable to fly due to his injured wing, Silyan may have perished on the landfill. Little did he know he would find his salvation in a new family of the human kind.

Nikola is a sturdy patriarch within his family and his village, with a stocky build and short snowy hair crowning his head. His weathered face bears the marks of years spent toiling under the sun, his dark eyes reflecting both strength and warmth. Despite his imposing stature, there's an innate cheerfulness about him, mirrored in the kindness that shines through his gaze. Nikola's physical prowess is undeniable, yet his occasional clumsiness adds a touch of humor to his presence, a gentle reminder of his endearing humanity. Though his features betray the passage of time, his health remains robust, a testament to a life lived close to the earth. Nikola's hands bear the calluses of countless hours spent tending to his land, each wrinkle on his weathered skin a story of hard work and resilience.

It is impossible to overlook the formidable presence of Jana, the epitome of strength and resilience amidst the rural landscape of Macedonia. With a physique honed by hard labor and a countenance exuding natural grace, she embodies the essence of womanhood in the countryside. Within Nikola's family, Jana stands as the cornerstone of maternal authority, commanding respect and admiration from all who know her. Her unwavering dedication to the land is matched only by her prowess as a shrewd negotiator in the marketplace, fearlessly challenging those who seek to exploit her family's hard work. In the face of adversity, Jana's integrity remains unyielding, her voice ringing out with unwavering conviction when the honor of her family is at stake.

Nikola and Jana’s daughter Ana and her family represent the younger generation that is caught between two worlds: traditional farming roots and big city opportunities. Ana and her husband have embraced the rustic village life and the physical labor of the fields, and are raising their young daughter to value hard work and perseverance. Ana’s husband shines in his loyalty to his family, a quality which Nikola deeply admires. There is a playfulness within this family and across these three generations, but their seemingly indomitable spirit is shaken when Ana must move her family to Germany for better job opportunities. The prospect of abandoning her beloved home weighs heavy on her heart, but as a mother, Ana’s priority is to build a brighter future for her child.

Ilija is a true best friend to Nikola. Through thick and thin, he stands unwaveringly by Nikola’s side, even when all others have departed the village. Despite his diminutive stature and frail appearance, Ilija possesses a remarkable resilience. Ilija was also a farmer, but the same fate of the agricultural crisis befell him; he sold his land and took up a position at the local landfill alongside Nikola. In his eccentricity, Ilija entertains wild ideas, from looking for gold among the ruins of the village to aiding Nikola in crafting a nest for the Silyan on the second floor of his house. As the village empties, their bond only strengthens, morphing into a childlike camaraderie that finds joy in every new discovery.

Tamara Kotevska was born in Prilep, North Macedonia, and fell in love with filmmaking early on. At the age of twelve, Kotevska picked up a VHS camera and began capturing childhood memories and neighborhood stories. In 2010, she won a US exchange student scholarship and moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she continued to study documentary filmmaking.

Upon her return to North Macedonia, Kotevska began a 2-year collaboration with director Ljubo Stefanov to co-direct LAKE OF APPLES (2016), a short documentary that received over ten grand prizes in international documentary festivals around the world. After this film, Tamara co-directed her debut feature-length documentary HONEYLAND. The film went on to win three awards at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival (Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema Documentary, Impact Award, Cinematography Award) and two Academy Award nominations in 2020 for Best Documentary Feature and Best International Feature. At the time, it was the only documentary film in history to be nominated in both categories.

After HONEYLAND, Kotevska directed her second feature-length documentary, THE WALK, produced by the Academy Award-winning British production company Grain Media. THE WALK had its world premiere at DOC NYC 2023 and its European Premiere at CPH:DOX 2024. She is currently in post-production on her debut fiction film, MAN VS. FLOCK, and is developing a new documentary about the Dolgan mammoth tusk hunters, which will shoot in the northernmost area of the Siberian tundra. In her films, Kotevska aims to create new forms of filmmaking, unforgettable stories, strong characters and perception-shifting messages.

Jean Dakar was born to Syrian-Turkish parents and was raised between Germany, Spain and the UK. His multicultural background has ignited a deep interest in exploring different cultures around the world. Dakar graduated in Film Production from the Arts University Bournemouth (UK) and began his career as a cinematographer in London.

Dakar developed a stark interest in subjects that tackle environmental and sociopolitical issues and began working on documentaries, which have taken him from an ex-colonial stone town in Mozambique to the Siberian Arctic tundra.

In 2021, Jean began his collaboration with Tamara Kotevska on the feature documentary THE WALK, produced by Grain Media, a film about a Syrian refugee girl who follows the journey of the 11-foot tall puppet “Amal” across a dozen borders.

Anna Hashmi is a BAFTA and Emmy® Award-winning producer and founder of The Corner Shop, with offices in Los Angeles and London. She is a producer on the documentary feature film “The Tale of Silyan,” directed and produced by the twice Oscar®-nominated co-director of “Honeyland,” Tamara Kotevska.

“The Tale of Silyan” is produced by Ciconia Films, Concordia Studios and The Corner Shop, and premiered in 2025 at the Venice Film Festival and TIFF, where it was acquired by National Geographic Documentary Films.

Hashmi is also in development with Tamara Kotevska and Jean Dakar (cinematographer and producer) on their next feature documentary, “The Mammoths That Escaped The Kingdom of Erlik Khan,” with co-producers Real Lava and Alecrim Vagabundo.

In addition, Hashmi developed and produced the BAFTA-winning scripted digital TV series for Channel 4 “How To Be A Person,” written and directed by Sindha Agha; produced the DOC NYC Grand Jury-winning short documentary “Holy Cowboys,” directed by Varun Chopra; and the Emmy-winning P&G commercial “The Talk,” directed by Malik Vitthal. She also served as executive producer on the Oscar-nominated short film “Invincible,” written and directed by Vincent Rene-Lortie.

The Corner Shop’s name reflects Anna Hashmi’s South Asian cultural heritage and influences the diverse and eclectic work the company produces.

Jordanco Petkovski is a film producer with decades of experience in feature and documentary films, television series, commercials, and music videos, working in both Serbia and North Macedonia. Born in Skopje, Macedonia, he has been living and working in Belgrade, Serbia, since 2003.

A graduate of the Faculty of Contemporary Arts in Belgrade, majoring in arts production management, Petkovski completed his master’s degree in film production at the Europa Prima Faculty in North Macedonia.

Petkovski is the initiator and director of the Three-Day Macedonian Film Review in Serbia, a member of the Film Center of Serbia and juries in multiple categories, and a mentor of the School of Film Magic for children and youth. Through his production and educational work, he actively supports the development of regional cinematography, emerging talents, and film education.

Martin Ivanov is a Macedonian film editor known for his crisp storytelling and dynamic cutting style. Recent editing credits include THE WALK (2023), 5PM SEASIDE (2022), SISTERHOOD (2021), STICKER (2019), and SECRET INGREDIENT (2017). In addition to editing, Ivanov has contributed as a producer and director on select projects, such as DIGGING (2018).