According to the producer of Mainane Studios, Tricia Sello, the film got an award at the NEFTi All-Stars entry where it won the Best Film and Audience Choice awards at Durban FilmMart 2024. Sello explained that the film’s story line was back with a twist. Baratani is a story about a young couple that decided to go against the societal expectations and pursued their love for each other. They were said to have fled to Lentswe la Baratani hills where they disappeared and were never seen again. "In a remote village in Botswana, a young man fights to persuade the woman he loves to run away with him on the day of her marriage.
It has always been important for us at Mainane Studios to tell stories that reflect who we are as Batswana, and it is an exciting privilege to tell the stories we grew up on, share them with the world and receive such positive feedback from home and prominent industry executives like Vivica A. Fox (Hollywood Actress), Bruce Cohen (Oscar-winning producer), and Ted Gagliano (President of Feature Post Production, 20th Century Fox/Walt Disney Company). It is a testament to the importance of telling our stories, and proof that the world is ready for stories from Botswana," she said proudly. She further explained that when Moreetsi Gabang, the writer and director of BARATANI (The Hill of Lovers) shared his vision, she was immediately captivated. She added that she knew they were going to tell a Setswana story as their cultures were so diverse, and they did not want the creative liberties they took to be offensive to any tribe. However, she said their greatest challenge was navigating that space.
