Ghanaian Cinema Legend Rev. Dr. Chris Hesse Honoured with Lifetime Achievement at 2025 AMY Africa Awards
Ghanaian cinematography icon and visual historian Rev. Dr. Chris Hesse has been awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 AMY Africa Awards in recognition of his extraordinary six-decade contribution to African film and storytelling.
The revered filmmaker, director, educator, and clergyman was celebrated for capturing Ghana’s most defining post-independence moments and building the foundation for the country’s modern film and television industry.
From filming the optimism of the Nkrumah era to documenting the dramatic 1966 coup, Dr. Hesse’s lens served as Ghana’s visual conscience during turbulent and triumphant times. His work at the Ghana Film Industry Corporation (GFIC) in the 1960s produced iconic documentaries that gave Ghanaians their first cinematic identity as a proud, independent nation.
Beyond shooting history, Dr. Hesse institutionalised it. He pioneered formal film education in Ghana, establishing and leading film departments at major institutions and mentoring generations of directors, cinematographers, and producers who now power Ghana’s booming movie and TV industry.
The AMY Africa Awards committee praised his unique blend of technical mastery, ethical storytelling, and commitment to using film as a tool for national development, cultural preservation, and good governance.
Now a Reverend Minister, Dr. Hesse accepted the honour with humility, dedicating it to the unsung crew members and pioneers who worked alongside him.
“This award belongs to all those hands that held the lights, carried the cameras, and believed that our stories were worth telling with dignity,” he said.
The Lifetime Achievement honour comes as a powerful reminder of the need to preserve and celebrate Africa’s cinematic heritage while supporting the next generation of storytellers.
