Ajyal Film Festival 2024

All Films

Honeyland (Medena Zemja)

Ajyal Competition

Tamara Kotevska, Ljubomir Stefanov / Feature Documentary / North Macedonia / 2019 / 85 min / Colour / DCP
In Turkish
Interests: Documentary

Synopsis

Deep in an isolated mountain region within the Balkans, Hatidze Muratova lives with her mother in a desolate village without electricity or running water. The last in a long line of Macedonian wild beekeepers, she ekes out a living collecting honey, which she sells at a market in the nearest city. Just as worker bees dedicate their lives to taking care of the queen bee that never leaves her hive, Hatidze too has committed her own life to her blind and paralyzed mother—unable to leave their ramshackle hut. One day, Hatidze’s isolated existence is thrown into upheaval by the arrival of an itinerant family, with their roaring engines, seven rambunctious children and a herd of cattle.

At first, Hatidze welcomes her new neighbours with open arms, offering up her affections and tried-and-true beekeeping advice. But it doesn’t take long before Hussein, the itinerant family’s patriarch, senses an opportunity—making a series of decisions that could destroy Hatidze’s way of life forever. A strikingly beautiful and disarmingly poignant allegory about the impact of modern agriculture, ‘Honeyland’ is a metaphor for a wider notion of how closely intertwined nature and humanity are, and how much we stand to lose if we ignore this critical connection.

About the Directors

Tamara Kotevska graduated in film directing from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts Skopje. She has five years of experience in documentary and fiction filmmaking as a freelance film director, and is currently living and working in Skopje.

Ljubomir Stefanov has over 20 years of experience in the development and production of communication concepts and documentaries related to environmental issues and human development. She has worked for clients such as UN agencies, Euronatur, and Swisscontact.

Credits

Director
Tamara Kotevska, Ljubomir Stefanov
Screenwriter
Tamara Kotevska, Ljubomir Stefanov
Producer
Atanas Georgiev
Editor
Atanas Georgiev
Co-Producer
Ljubomir Stefanov
Music
Foltin
Cinematographer
Fejmi Daut, Samir Ljuma
Sales Company
Deckert Distribution GmbH
Production Company
Trice Films, Apolo Media
Sound
Rana Eid
Distributor
Deckert Distribution GmbH
Cast
Hatidze Muratova, Nazife Muratova, Hussein Sam, Ljutive Sam, Mustafa Sam, Muzafer Sam, Veli Sam, Ali Sam, Alit Sam, Gamze Sam, Ljutvish Sam, Safet Javorovac

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