Outside the Box [Office] and National Geographic Documentary Films
invite you and a guest to attend

A Special Theatrical Screening of

THE TALE OF SILYAN

North Macedonia's Official Selection
for the 98th Academy Awards

Winner - Cinema & Arts Award: Best Film,
2025 Venice International Film Festival

Directed by Tamara Kotevska 
Produced by Tamara Kotevska, Jean Dakar,
Anna Hashmi, and Jordanco Petkovski

Followed by a Q&A with Tamara Kotevska and Jean Dakar

7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025

The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108
George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex
900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007

FREE ADMISSION. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. RSVPs REQUIRED.
RSVPs ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE.

FOOD AND DRINKS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED IN THE AUDITORIUM.
 

CLICK HERE TO RSVP
 

About The Tale of Silyan

From the Oscar-nominated director of HONEYLAND comes a poignant and visually arresting story set in the heart of rural Macedonia. Nikola, a farmer grappling with the harsh realities of new government policies, finds himself unable to sell his land or crops. When his family leaves in search of a better life abroad, Nikola takes a job as a landfill attendant, where he encounters the injured white stork Silyan. As he nurses the bird back to health, an unlikely bond forms between man and animal. The result is a deeply moving film that touches on climate change, economic migration, resilience and the quiet power of connection.

Provided courtesy of National Geographic Documentary Films. Running time: 81 minutes.

About the Guests

TAMARA KOTEVSKA (Director, Producer)

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 (Cinematographer, Producer)

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.

About Outside the Box [Office]

Outside the Box [Office] is a weekly showcase for upcoming releases highlighting world cinema, documentary and independent film titles. The series draws from around the globe to present movies that may challenge, inspire or simply entertain.

To view the calendar of screenings, click here

To SUBSCRIBE to our MAILING LIST for upcoming free screenings and events, e-mail the word "Subscribe" to: aago@cinema.usc.edu
 

Check-In & Reservations

The USC School of Cinematic Arts operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.

This screening is free of charge and open to the public. A reservation confirmation will automatically be sent to your e-mail account upon successfully making an RSVP through this website. Doors will open at 6:30 P.M.

All SCA screenings are OVERBOOKED to ensure seating capacity in the theater, therefore seating is not guaranteed based on RSVPs. The RSVP list will be checked in on a first-come, first-served basis until the theater is full. Once the theater has reached capacity, we will no longer be able to admit guests, regardless of RSVP status.

Accessibility Needs

Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event may contact Alessandro Ago, Assistant Dean, Programming and Special Events, at aago@cinema.usc.edu or 213-740-2330. It is requested that individuals requiring accommodations or auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify us at least seven days prior to the event. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.

Parking

On-campus parking at the University of Southern California is limited. We recommend buying a day pass for the Royal Street Structure, located at the intersection of Royal Street and W. Jefferson Blvd. Parking passes are $20/car. For more information about parking at USC, please visit USC Transportation Website:

https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/daily-and-hourly-parking/
https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/about-us/entrance-hours/

Contact Information

Name: Alessandro Ago
Email: aago@cinema.usc.edu