Ghana's 'Ego Reach We All' Makes Historic Locarno Film Festival Debut

Ghana's film industry has achieved a significant milestone with the official nomination of Ego Reach We All (also titled Our Time Will Come) at the 79th Locarno Film Festival, one of Europe's most respected cinema platforms. The feature film, directed and written by Amartei Armar and produced by Yemoh Ike, marks a landmark moment for Ghanaian cinema on the international stage, showcasing the depth of creative talent emerging from West Africa.

The 105-minute drama was shot entirely in Ghana using a local crew, with post-production completed in France. This production model reflects a growing trend of African filmmakers leveraging home-based talent whilst accessing global technical resources—a collaborative approach that has become increasingly vital for African cinema seeking international recognition.

A Path Built on Recognition and Support

The journey to Locarno began with a short film version released in 2018, which won at the Montreal World Film Festival, an Oscar-qualifying event. Since then, the feature has accumulated substantial international validation. The project was named winner of the Cannes Focus CoPro and has received backing from multiple prestigious African and Middle Eastern funding bodies, including the Red Sea Development Fund, Red Sea Souk Award, and the Red Sea Productions Fund.

Both filmmaker and producer have been selected for elite international development programmes. Armar participated in the Heyazah Screening Lab in Doha, whilst producer Yemoh Ike was chosen for the 2023 EAVE Producers Program—a leading European training initiative that saw him work across Luxembourg, Austria, and the Netherlands. Most recently, the project was selected for the 2025 Atlas Workshop in Marrakesh, Morocco, demonstrating sustained industry confidence in its artistic merit.

Why It Matters for Ghana

The Locarno nomination represents more than a festival honour; it signals growing international appetite for authentic African storytelling. For Ghana specifically, the success amplifies the country's position as a hub for quality film production in the region. Whilst Nigerian cinema has received considerable global attention, Ghanaian filmmakers like Armar are now securing comparable international platforms, potentially attracting further investment and co-production opportunities to the country.

The film's casting—featuring actors including Idrissu Tontie, Dorothy Adobea Tandoh, and Emmanuel Wilberforce—provides visibility for Ghanaian performers on the international film circuit. As African narratives gain prominence in global cinema, films like this create pathways for local talent and inspire emerging filmmakers to pursue international standards from Ghana rather than relocating abroad.

Additionally, the backing from Middle Eastern and European funding bodies reflects the increasing regionalisation of African film finance. Ghana's capacity to deliver quality productions with international crews demonstrates the infrastructure now exists for more ambitious African projects to be developed locally.

The Cast and Crew

The ensemble includes Gabriel Narh Addo, Nelly Bilson, Kwame Brenya, and Emmanuel Owusu Ofori, among others. The drama genre, paired with a 105-minute runtime, positions the film as a substantial narrative work rather than a short or experimental piece—indicating the filmmakers' ambition to create stories of complex human depth.

As the Locarno Film Festival prepares for its showcase, Ego Reach We All carries the creative voices of Ghana to one of cinema's most discerning international audiences.