The Eyes of Ghana, a documentary on the preservation of Ghana’s cinematic history, will be shown in cinemas for a single night on October 28, 2026, thanks to a partnership between Higher Ground Productions, Breakwater Studios, and streaming celebrity IShowSpeed.
Participating theatres in the United States, such as independent movie houses and big chains, will host the showing. There is currently no information on when the film will be shown in Ghana and the United Kingdom.
The movie tracks Ghanaian cinematographer Chris Hesse, 93 years old, who was the personal cameraman to Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President, as he battles against deteriorating vision and time to preserve and return more than 1,000 reels of vintage footage.
The film captures the 1950s and 1960s liberation movement of Africa as well as Ghana’s independence period.
The movie’s synopsis states that following the 1966 coup that ousted Nkrumah from office, Hesse secretly transported the negatives to London, preserving pictures that may have been lost.
Darren Watkins Jr., also known as IShowSpeed, stated that his trip to Ghana in 2026 improved his relationship with the nation and its people.
He stated in a statement that he was pleased to contribute to reaching a larger audience with Hesse’s tale.
He claimed that learning about the cinematographer’s work had reinforced his respect for Ghana’s history and the need to preserve it for succeeding generations.
Beyond traditional film and history circles, the documentary is able to reach a larger audience thanks to the streamer’s worldwide following across streaming and social media channels.
Ghana’s visual heritage is explored in the movie
The Eyes of Ghana, directed by two-time Academy Award winner Ben Proudfoot, explores Hesse’s attempts to preserve and return archival footage that depicts pivotal moments in Ghana’s history and the fight for African independence.
Moreover, the documentary underscores the value of preserving the works of African filmmakers and giving younger generations access to historical records.
It later took home the Hamptons International Film Festival’s Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature after making its debut at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
Breakwater Studios and Higher Ground Productions are responsible for the film’s production; Barack and Michelle Obama are among the executive producers.
According to data given for this report, the documentary debuted in Ghana in April 2026 at the National Theatre of Ghana before being screened at the Cedi Conference Centre of the University of Ghana.
Additionally, it has been showcased at various international film festivals, such as the BFI London Film Festival.
Ben Proudfoot, the director, has said that he hopes the movie would be shown for free in schools throughout Ghana, enabling kids to connect with archived video from the country’s past.
Even though the cinema event on October 28 is confirmed for participating theaters in the United States, organizers have not yet announced additional screening dates in Ghana and the United Kingdom.
The official website of the movie, The Eyes of Ghana, offers information on tickets and participating theaters.
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