National Geographic's The Tale of Silyan has claimed the Best Feature Documentary award at the 41st Annual IDA Documentary Awards in Los Angeles. Directed by Tamara Kotevska, the film chronicles a North Macedonian farmer's care for an injured white stork. The victory bolsters its prospects for Oscar recognition.
The International Documentary Association (IDA) held its 41st Annual Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on December 6, 2025, celebrating excellence in nonfiction filmmaking. Winners were selected through member votes for top categories and expert committees for others, with the event preceding Oscar shortlist voting.
Best Feature Documentary: The Tale of Silyan
Tamara Kotevska's The Tale of Silyan emerged as the night's standout, winning Best Feature Documentary. Produced by Kotevska, Jean Dakar, Anna Hashmi, and Jordanco Petkovski for National Geographic, the film is set in North Macedonia and follows farmer Nikola as he rehabilitates an injured white stork named Silyan. The story highlights themes of compassion and nature, featuring striking visuals of storks in flight and nesting. Jean Dakar also secured Best Cinematography for his work, capturing the birds' majestic behaviors and intimate care moments. The film competed against nominees including Apocalypse in the Tropics, Life After, Seeds, and Songs of Slow Burning Earth.
Additional Highlights
Petra Costa's Apocalypse in the Tropics, a Netflix production examining Christian nationalism in Brazil, won Best Production and shared Best Writing with collaborators Alessandra Orofino, Nels Bangerter, David Barker, and Tina Baz. Brittany Shyne received Best Director for Seeds, which spotlights generations of Black farmers in the American South; she also earned the Emerging Filmmaker Award. Looking for a Donkey by Juan Vicente Manrique took Best Short Documentary.
In music-focused categories, Kevin Macdonald's One to One: John & Yoko won Best Music Documentary, exploring the couple's time in New York’s Greenwich Village. Honorary awards went to producer Julie Goldman for Career Achievement and Impact Partners for the Pioneer Award.
Broader Context
The IDA Awards have a track record of predicting Oscar winners, as seen with last year's Best Feature recipient No Other Land. With 201 documentaries qualified for Oscar consideration this year, The Tale of Silyan's IDA success positions it as a frontrunner ahead of the December 16 shortlist announcement.