IShowSpeed joins ‘The Eyes of Ghana’ ahead of October 28 cinema release

American internet sensation IShowSpeed has joined the production team of The Eyes of Ghana, an acclaimed documentary about Ghanaian cinematographer Chris Hesse and his mission to preserve rare footage documenting the struggle for African independence.

The 21-year-old content creator, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., has partnered with Breakwater Studios and Higher Ground, the production company founded by former US President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, to bring the film to cinemas across the United States and Canada for a one-night screening on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

IShowSpeed is credited as a producer under his real name, Darren Watkins, and has shared the film’s official trailer as part of efforts to introduce the documentary to his global audience.

Directed by two-time Academy Award winner Ben Proudfoot, The Eyes of Ghana explores a remarkable chapter of Ghanaian history through the work of Hesse, a veteran cinematographer who documented the country’s independence era and served as personal cameraman to Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah.

According to BroadwayWorld, the documentary will be screened at participating cinemas operated by Regal, AMC, Cinemark, and other selected theater chains and independent venues. Tickets and local screening times are available through the film’s official website, TheEyesOfGhana.com.

What ‘The Eyes of Ghana’ documentary is about

The 90-minute documentary follows Hesse as he races against time to preserve more than 1,000 films documenting Ghana’s history and the wider African independence movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

The archive was hidden for decades following the overthrow of Nkrumah in a military coup in 1966. The collection captures a significant period in the continent’s political history, including the struggle against colonial rule and the emergence of independent African states.

As Hesse’s eyesight deteriorates, he works to ensure the historical footage survives for future generations. He entrusts young Ghanaian filmmaker Anita Afonu and her classmates with the responsibility of carrying his work forward.

His message to the next generation is simple: "Keep on filming.”

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Their efforts lead towards a public screening at Accra’s historic Rex Cinema, bringing the preserved footage back to the public and connecting younger Ghanaians with the country’s past.

Proudfoot, who directed the film, began developing the project after Hesse approached him following a chance encounter five years earlier.

IShowSpeed explains his personal connection to Ghana.

IShowSpeed’s involvement in the documentary follows his visit to Ghana during his Speed Does Africa tour earlier in 2026.

During the trip, the creator expressed a personal connection to Ghana, telling viewers he was “back home” and discussing his Ghanaian ancestry.

He also visited the Kwame Nkrumah monument in Accra, a landmark featured in the documentary, where he recreated the pose of the former president whose historic moments Hesse spent years capturing on camera.

The partnership gives IShowSpeed an opportunity to connect his online audience with Ghana’s historical legacy and the work of a filmmaker who documented the independence era decades before the creator’s visit.

In a statement, IShowSpeed said his visit to Ghana and his discovery of Hesse’s work had deepened his understanding of the country.

“It is a great honor to be part of THE EYES OF GHANA and help bring this extraordinary piece of history to the big screen. I felt a profound connection to Ghana when I visited this year, and learning about Chris Hesse’s work deepened my understanding of the country and its people,” he said.

He added that Hesse’s footage had helped preserve an important chapter of African history.

“His camera captured the birth of African independence, and his determination to preserve those images has ensured that future generations can witness it for themselves. I’m humbled by his legacy and proud to help bring his story to my community,” IShowSpeed said.

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With more than 60 million YouTube subscribers, the creator is expected to introduce the documentary to viewers who may not otherwise encounter films focused on Ghana’s historical archives.

Obama-backed Higher Ground welcomes IShowSpeed partnership.

Higher Ground, which was founded by Barack and Michelle Obama, said the collaboration would help bring Hesse’s story to cinema audiences and encourage younger generations to engage with African history.

Ethan Lewis, Head of Non-Fiction at Higher Ground, praised Hesse’s decades of work preserving historical footage.

“Chris Hesse spent more than six decades documenting and safeguarding an extraordinary chapter of Ghanaian and African history,” Lewis said.

“Higher Ground is proud to partner with IShowSpeed, Ben Proudfoot, and Breakwater Studios and this accomplished team of artists to bring this remarkable story to theaters on October 28th.”

Lewis added that the documentary highlights the importance of protecting collective memory and passing historical knowledge to future generations.

The film’s release also comes amid growing interest in bringing digital creators’ audiences into traditional cinema spaces. The partnership combines IShowSpeed’s international reach with a documentary centered on Ghana’s historical experience.

‘The Eyes of Ghana’ earns international recognition.

Before its planned North American cinema event, The Eyes of Ghana had already received attention on the international film festival circuit.

The documentary opened the TIFF Docs program at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and later premiered internationally in competition at the BFI London Film Festival.

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Its honors include the Special Jury Prize and Best Documentary at the Africa International Film Festival in Lagos, audience awards at the Hamptons International and Annapolis Film Festivals, and the Jimmy Stewart Legacy Award from Heartland Film Festival.

The film was shot by cinematographer Brandon Somerhalder across multiple formats, including sequences captured on IMAX 65mm film using a camera provided by IMAX.

Its original score was composed by Academy Award winner Kris Bowers, a frequent collaborator of Proudfoot. The music was recorded with the Chineke! Orchestra and Ghanaian musicians at Abbey Road Studios.

Who produced ‘The Eyes of Ghana’?

In addition to IShowSpeed, credited as Darren Watkins, the film’s producers include Ben Proudfoot, Nana Adwoa Frimpong, Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Moses Bwayo, Anita Afonu, Brandon Somerhalder, Ethan Lewis, and Vinnie Malhotra.

Executive producers include Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, alongside Sir John Akomfrah, Kofi Amoo-Gottfried, Paula Madison, Dan and Lian Gill, Max Johnson, Jonathan E. Lim, Michael Risley, Josh Rosenberg, David Treatman, and Esther Wojcicki.

The film brings together Ghanaian historical material, international documentary filmmaking, and a global digital creator to tell the story of one man’s determination to preserve a vital record of African independence.

When will ‘The Eyes of Ghana’ screen in the US and Canada?

The Eyes of Ghana is scheduled for a one-night cinema event in the United States and Canada on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

Participating exhibitors include Regal, AMC, Cinemark, selected independent cinemas, and other theater chains.

Viewers can check local showtimes and ticket availability at TheEyesOfGhana.com.

The screening offers audiences an opportunity to discover Chris Hesse’s historical archive and the story of how film can preserve a nation’s history for generations to come.