The Eyes of Ghana
IShowSpeed has officially stepped into film production. The American streamer, who says his roots trace back to Ghana, has joined The Eyes of Ghana as a producer, and the acclaimed documentary about Kwame Nkrumah’s personal cameraman will play in cinemas across the United States and Canada for one night only on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
The news was announced on October 15 by Breakwater Studios and Higher Ground, the production company owned by former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. The Obamas are executive producers on the film.
Watch: The Eyes of Ghana Official Trailer
Higher Ground Productions released the first trailer for the documentary alongside the announcement.
IShowSpeed: “Your Boy IShowSpeed Is a Producer”
Speed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., shared the news himself in a video posted on X. He explained that his trip to Ghana earlier this year left a deep mark on him.
“I went to Ghana this year, and it felt like home,” he said. He then added with his usual excitement: “Ladies and gentlemen, they bought me as a producer. Your boy IShowSpeed is a producer.”
The streamer told fans he has already seen the documentary and called it “a great film.” He urged his followers to watch it, stressing that “it will premiere only one night.”
In the official announcement, he described the project as “a great honor” to be part of.
What Is The Eyes of Ghana About?
The Eyes of Ghana is a 90-minute documentary directed by two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot. It tells the story of Chris Hesse, the Ghanaian cinematographer who served as the personal cameraman of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first leader after independence in 1957.
Hesse filmed some of the most important moments of Ghana’s and Africa’s fight for independence in the 1950s and 1960s. After Nkrumah was overthrown in a military coup in 1966, that archive of more than 1,000 films was hidden away for decades.
Now 93, Hesse races against his failing eyesight to rescue and return the footage to the Ghanaian people. Along the way, he hands his legacy to young Ghanaian filmmaker Anita Afonu and her classmates, and their work builds up to a public screening at the historic Rex Cinema in Accra.
Shot partly on IMAX
Part of the documentary was shot on IMAX 65mm film. Cinematographer Brandon Somerhalder handled the camera work, while composer Kris Bowers wrote the score. The music was recorded at Abbey Road Studios with the Chineke! Orchestra and Ghanaian musicians.
Quick Facts
- Title: The Eyes of Ghana
- Director: Ben Proudfoot
- Producer: IShowSpeed (Darren Watkins Jr.)
- Executive producers: Barack and Michelle Obama
- Subject: Chris Hesse, Kwame Nkrumah’s personal cameraman
- Runtime: 90 minutes
- Release: One night only, Wednesday, October 28, 2026
- Where: Cinemas across the US and Canada, including Regal, AMC and Cinemark
- Tickets: TheEyesOfGhana.com
Where to Watch and How to Get Tickets
The one-night theatrical event will run in major US chains such as Regal, AMC and Cinemark, as well as other chains and independent cinemas. Fans can check local showtimes and buy tickets on the film’s official website, TheEyesOfGhana.com.
This is a special screening event, not a regular cinema run, so availability depends on each local theatre.
A Film Already Winning Awards
The documentary is not new to the festival circuit. It opened the TIFF Docs programme at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and later premiered in competition at the BFI London Film Festival.
Closer to home, it won the Special Jury Prize and Best Documentary at the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Lagos, Nigeria.
Ethan Lewis, Head of Non-Fiction at Higher Ground, said the film “speaks to the power of film to preserve our collective memory.”
Why IShowSpeed’s Involvement Matters
Speed is one of the biggest online creators in the world, with more than 200 million followers across platforms, according to the announcement. His backing could bring a story about Ghana’s history to millions of young viewers who may never have heard of Chris Hesse or seen footage of the independence era.
His bond with Ghana grew stronger during his “Speed Does Africa” tour earlier this year. Many Ghanaians still remember his lively streams in Accra, which we covered in our list of the top moments from IShowSpeed’s visit to Ghana. During that visit, he said his ancestry traces back to the country.
His rise from a YouTube gamer to a global star has been remarkable, as explained in our piece on how IShowSpeed became a global phenomenon. He has also never been shy about his Ghana pride, once declaring “I’m Ghanaian, but Portugal is winning the World Cup.”
More to Come
Speed’s announcement video spread quickly online after he shared it on October 15. In a teaser posted by his team, he hinted that this may not be his last project of this kind: “There’s more to come, I’m not gonna say too much…”
Final Word
For a streamer best known for high-energy livestreams, producing a documentary about Ghana’s independence history is a bold new step. With the Obamas behind it and Speed’s fanbase ready to show up, October 28 could be a big night for Ghanaian history on the big screen.
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