The Eyes of Ghana

The Eyes of Ghana
Directed byBen Proudfoot
Produced by
  • Ben Proudfoot
  • Nana Adwoa Frimpong
  • Anita Afonu
  • Moses Bwayo
  • Brandon Somerhalder
Starring
  • Chris Hesse
  • Anita Afonu
  • Edmund Addo
Cinematography
  • Brandon Somerhalder
  • David Feeney-Mosier
Edited byMonica Salazar
Music byKris Bowers
Production
companies
  • Breakwater Studios
  • Higher Ground Productions
Release date
  • September 4, 2025 (2025-09-04)
CountryUnited States

The Eyes of Ghana is an American documentary feature film directed by Ben Proudfoot and executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama. The film follows Chris Hesse, the personal cameraman to revolutionary leader Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana, who was deposed in a coup d'état in 1966. Having saved over 1,000 rolls of film from Nkrumah's enemies who sought to destroy them, Hesse, now in his 90's, passes them on to a protégé and together they attempt to hold a public screening of footage never seen in public before in Accra.

Production

The score was mixed at Abbey Road Studios.[1]

Release

The Eyes of Ghana premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival where it was the opening film at the festival's documentary sidebar.[2][3]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 94% of 16 critics' reviews are positive.[4]

The film won the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at the Hamptons International Film Festival.[5]

References

  1. ^ Lodderhose, Diana (2025-10-20). "Oscar-Winning Director Ben Proudfoot Talks Historical Significance Of 'The Eyes Of Ghana', Scoring Doc At Abbey Road Studios & Why Project Was A "Full Circle Moment" For Barack Obama". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  2. ^ "The Eyes of Ghana". TIFF. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  3. ^ Vlessing, Etan (2025-08-06). "Ben Proudfoot's Obamas-Backed 'The Eyes of Ghana' to Open Toronto Fest Doc Program". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  4. ^ "The Eyes of Ghana | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  5. ^ "HIFF33: Awards Announced!". Hamptons International Film Festival. Retrieved 2025-11-12.