I am looking out for the documentary film, “An African Election” by the director Jarreth Merz. The film covers the dramatic events surrounding Ghana’s 2008 presidential elections. The election was only the second time – since Ghana ended military rule in 1992 – that power would change hands through an election. Following a run-off, the two top candidates – the ruling party’s Nana Akufo-Addo and his challenger John Atta-Mills (who incidentally campaigned like Barack Obama was his running mate)–were tied for the lead. Results had to be delayed because of disputes over balloting and counting procedures. Some observers feared violence. Of course, we now know how it all ended: Atta-Mills became Ghana’s new president.

The film made the official program of the Sundance Film Festival next month, so there’s some hope it may get a limited release (the fate of documentary films with a non-US focus and that’s not fronted by celebrities) at an independent theater near you (if you live in a major metropolitan center)  or on a cable channel or onto online viewing platforms like Netflix or Hulu.

Update:  China Daily Review’s critic saw the film at Sundance, and concluded that “… Merz’s access to both candidates in the election and to many other political insiders lends the film credibility and immediacy. The picture is a natural for public television, with limited theatrical potential, though it’s more involving than many documentaries that do get released.” It added: “… Merz and his brother and co-director, Kevin Merz, conduct many revealing interviews with the candidates, election observers, and other leaders in the country. Cinematographer Topher Osborn contributes striking images of both urban and rural locales; voters in the countryside are just as engaged in the election results as their city cousins. Editor Samir Samperisi helps to give the film the rhythm of a good thriller. While the politicians emerge as articulate and thoughtful men, one might wish that the film offered a slightly sharper delineation of distinctions between the two political parties. Perhaps the cooperation of the presidential candidates required a certain respectful timorousness on the part of the director.”

Senses of Cinema thought the inclusion of “An African Election” was “… evidence of the relatively new interest developed by Sundance for the African continent.”