The highly anticipated documentary The Eyes of Ghana is reaching cinemas in the United States and Canada on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, bringing renewed international attention to Ghana’s independence history and the work of veteran Ghanaian cinematographer Rev. Dr Chris Tsui Hesse.

The film, directed by two-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ben Proudfoot, features American internet personality IShowSpeed as a producer, with former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama serving as executive producers through their production company, Higher Ground Productions.mnfwcgvxqkucbqyiwzyaadz7.webpgaajudx03rll1hlkajd3wsrd.jpg

The documentary follows 93-year-old Hesse, who served as personal cinematographer to Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, as he works to preserve and return a vast collection of historical footage documenting Ghana’s independence and the wider African liberation movement.

The North American release is scheduled as a special one-night theatrical event, with participating cinemas offering screenings on October 28.

The Story Behind The Eyes of Ghana

At the centre of the documentary is Hesse’s decades-long effort to protect more than 1,000 reels of film capturing significant moments in Ghana’s political, cultural and historical development.

During his career, Hesse documented Nkrumah and events surrounding Ghana’s early years of independence. His archive also contains footage connected to the wider struggle for African liberation during the 1950s and 1960s.

Following the 1966 coup that removed Nkrumah from power, much of the historical material faced the threat of being lost. Hesse preserved the footage over the years, safeguarding a visual record of events that shaped Ghana and the continent.

Now in his nineties and facing declining eyesight, Hesse is working to ensure that the collection survives and becomes accessible to future generations.

The documentary explores the importance of preserving this material and making it available to audiences who may otherwise never have the opportunity to see these historical moments.

IShowSpeed and the Obamas Support the Project

The involvement of IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., has brought additional international attention to the documentary, particularly among younger audiences.

The popular streamer visited Ghana earlier in 2026 as part of his African travels, drawing attention to the country’s culture, heritage and history among his large online following.

His role as a producer on The Eyes of Ghana connects his global digital audience with a story rooted in Ghana’s historical experience.

Barack and Michelle Obama are executive producers through Higher Ground Productions, which supports projects exploring important cultural, historical and social subjects.

Their involvement, alongside Proudfoot’s direction, has helped bring Hesse’s story to an international audience through the film’s theatrical release.

Ghana’s Independence History Takes Centre Stage

Beyond the involvement of internationally recognised personalities, the documentary focuses on a significant part of Ghana’s national history.

The footage preserved by Hesse offers a visual record of the country’s emergence as an independent nation in 1957 and the wider movement for African self-determination.

By bringing this material to the screen, the film highlights the role of archival footage in documenting historical events and preserving the experiences of people who shaped them.

It also draws attention to the work required to protect audiovisual archives, particularly in countries where historical films may face challenges involving preservation, storage, restoration and public access.

For Ghana, the project offers an opportunity to introduce the country’s historical story to international audiences while encouraging renewed interest in its cinematic heritage.

The Eyes of Ghana Screening Scheduled in Accra

Ghanaian audiences will also have an opportunity to see the documentary at a special screening scheduled for Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra.

The screening is being announced by the memorial park in collaboration with the Dikan Centre and with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

According to the organisers’ announcement, registration is available through the Dikan Centre’s event registration page.

The Accra screening comes shortly after the film’s North American theatrical release and provides another opportunity for audiences in Ghana to engage with the historical material documented by Hesse.

Further screenings and distribution arrangements should be confirmed through the film’s official channels.

A Legacy for Future Generations

The Eyes of Ghana places the work of a veteran Ghanaian filmmaker at the centre of a wider conversation about history, identity and the preservation of national heritage.

Through Hesse’s archive, the documentary revisits the events that shaped Ghana’s independence and highlights the importance of protecting historical records for future generations.

Its international release also demonstrates how documentary filmmaking can connect local histories with global audiences, particularly when supported by influential producers and experienced filmmakers.

As the film reaches cinemas in North America and prepares for another screening in Accra, Hesse’s decades-long commitment to preserving Ghana’s visual history remains central to its message: the past must be protected if future generations are to understand it.