Macedonian film “Honeyland” in the race for Oscar in two categories
After 25 years, Macedonian movie is in the race for two Oscars!
One year ago the documentary Honeyland from North Macedonia was absolutely winner of Sundance film festival, it won a festival’s top prizes (World Cinema Grand Jury Prize, World Cinema Grand jury award for cinematography and World cinema documentary special jury award for impact for change), а year after first prizes, a documentary about Macedonian beekeeper’s, entered a race for Oscar and it has been nominated in two categories, for Documentary Feature Film and for International Feature Film.
The environmental documentary, shot over a period of three years, tells the story of an old woman who relies on ancient beekeeping traditions to cultivate honey in the mountains of North Macedonia.
Directors Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov expressed their gratitude toward the members of the Academy because they named the film as “material worthy of an Oscar.
"Through the woman whom we met by chance, the story was opened to the world - an allegory of a global image where the human and the natural are struggling to survive," the official team behind Honeyland wrote on the movie's official Facebook page.
Samir Ljuma - cinematographer, Ljubo Stefanov & Tamara Kotevska - directors, Fejmi Dauti - cinematographer and Atanas Georgiev - producer (Photo source: Getty Images)
“Atidze Muratova and the bees are a prototype for a new genetic material that has to win in the fight against the titans, where nature is fighting with the destructive forces. We are happy that world-renowned critics and members of the Academy recognized the plant’s cry that echoes among the film’s frames. This is the first time in the history of the Oscar awards that a documentary film is nominated in two categories, which means that this is not only a success with historic proportions, but it confirms that the documentary language is entering an era where it will be truly appreciated where it will stand shoulder to shoulder with fictional narration. Due to its realistic portrait, it deserves a special observation”.
Until now “Honeyland” and its makers have already won 30 international awards.
After 25 years, Macedonian movie is in the race for Oscar, but this time with a nomination in two categories.
The Oscars will be announced on February 9, and we can´t wait!
