Dithunya tsa Rona – a locally-produced film has won big on the global stage scooping three prestigious awards internationally. The film was recently awarded the coveted “Best International Feature Film” at the Annual Baltimore International Black Film Festival in America this past week. In addition, Tshepie Olds, a young Motswana actress on the rise won the “Best Supporting Actress” award from the Garden Route International Film Festival in South Africa. Since the film’s premiered, Dithunya tsa Rona has been making international waves with the film’s producer, Jenny Ledikwe winning the “Best Emerging Filmmaker” at The African Film Festival in America soon after its first premiere.
The film’s Writer, Producer and Co Director, Dr. Jenny Ledikwe said, “Our work combines the science of behavior change with the art of film making to produce captivating content with meaningful narratives to empower people and inspire change. “I feel grateful to have the opportunity to apply my knowledge, skills, and experience to make Botswana a safer place for our children with an amazing cast, crew and partners.”
Dithunya tsa Rona is a 1-hour docudrama which is focused on improving parenting in Botswana and creating safe homes for children, free from abuse, free from fear. The film tackles many challenging issues, including parenting and child sexual abuse. Written and produced by Dr. Jenny Ledikwe and Isaac Marumo, the groundbreaking docudrama is the brainchild of the Stepping Stones International team and is based on collaborative research with the Ministry of Local Government and Department of Social Protection among others. The film was made possible with funding from the European Union, Fonds Humanitaire de Stéphanie Lacroix and FACET Foundation.
“We are really excited about the international recognition the award is receiving and look forward to its official release. The film will be disseminated nationally through collaboration with the government and civil society and will be used as a discussion platform to create a safe environment for our children.” – Lisa Jamu SSI Executive Director